window
    n 1: a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass
         windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light
         or air
    2: a transparent opening in a vehicle that allow vision out of
       the sides or back; usually is capable of being opened
    3: a transparent panel (as of an envelope) inserted in an
       otherwise opaque material
    4: an opening that resembles a window in appearance or function;
       "he could see them through a window in the trees"
    5: the time period that is considered best for starting or
       finishing something; "the expanded window will give us time
       to catch the thieves"; "they had a window of less than an
       hour when an attack would have succeeded"
    6: a pane of glass in a window; "the ball shattered the window"
       [syn: windowpane, window]
    7: an opening in a wall or screen that admits light and air and
       through which customers can be served; "he stuck his head in
       the window"
    8: (computer science) a rectangular part of a computer screen
       that contains a display different from the rest of the screen

Window \Win"dow\, n. [OE. windowe, windoge, Icel. vindauga
   window, properly, wind eye; akin to Dan. vindue. ????. See
   Wind, n., and Eye.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. An opening in the wall of a building for the admission of
      light and air, usually closed by casements or sashes
      containing some transparent material, as glass, and
      capable of being opened and shut at pleasure.
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            I leaped from the window of the citadel. --Shak.
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            Then to come, in spite of sorrow,
            And at my window bid good morrow.     --Milton.
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   2. (Arch.) The shutter, casement, sash with its fittings, or
      other framework, which closes a window opening.
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   3. A figure formed of lines crossing each other. [R.]
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            Till he has windows on his bread and butter. --King.
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   4. a period of time in which some activity may be uniquely
      possible, more easily accomplished, or more likely to
      succeed; as, a launch window for a mission to Mars.
      [PJC]

   5. (Computers) a region on a computer display screen which
      represents a separate computational process, controlled
      more or less independently from the remaining part of the
      screen, and having widely varying functions, from simply
      displaying information to comprising a separate conceptual
      screen in which output can be visualized, input can be
      controlled, program dialogs may be accomplished, and a
      program may be controlled independently of any other
      processes occurring in the computer. The window may have a
      fixed location and size, or (as in modern Graphical User
      Interfaces) may have its size and location on the screen
      under the control of the operator.
      [PJC]
      [1913 Webster]

   French window (Arch.), a casement window in two folds,
      usually reaching to the floor; -- called also French
      casement.

   Window back (Arch.), the inside face of the low, and
      usually thin, piece of wall between the window sill and
      the floor below.

   Window blind, a blind or shade for a window.

   Window bole, part of a window closed by a shutter which can
      be opened at will. [Scot.]

   Window box, one of the hollows in the sides of a window
      frame for the weights which counterbalance a lifting sash.
      

   Window frame, the frame of a window which receives and
      holds the sashes or casement.

   Window glass, panes of glass for windows; the kind of glass
      used in windows.

   Window martin (Zool.), the common European martin. [Prov.
      Eng.]

   Window oyster (Zool.), a marine bivalve shell (Placuna
      placenta) native of the East Indies and China. Its valves
      are very broad, thin, and translucent, and are said to
      have been used formerly in place of glass.

   Window pane.
      (a) (Arch.) See Pane, n., 3
      (b) .
      (b) (Zool.) See Windowpane, in the Vocabulary.

   Window sash, the sash, or light frame, in which panes of
      glass are set for windows.

   Window seat, a seat arranged in the recess of a window. See
      Window stool, under Stool.

   Window shade, a shade or blind for a window; usually, one
      that is hung on a roller.

   Window shell (Zool.), the window oyster.

   Window shutter, a shutter or blind used to close or darken
      windows.

   Window sill (Arch.), the flat piece of wood, stone, or the
      like, at the bottom of a window frame.

   Window swallow (Zool.), the common European martin. [Prov.
      Eng.]

   Window tax, a tax or duty formerly levied on all windows,
      or openings for light, above the number of eight in houses
      standing in cities or towns. [Eng.]
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Window \Win"dow\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Windowed; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Windowing.]
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   1. To furnish with windows.
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   2. To place at or in a window. [R.]
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            Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and see
            Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down
            His corrigible neck?                  --Shak.
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Window
   properly only an opening in a house for the admission of light
   and air, covered with lattice-work, which might be opened or
   closed (2 Kings 1:2; Acts 20:9). The spies in Jericho and Paul
   at Damascus were let down from the windows of houses abutting on
   the town wall (Josh. 2:15; 2 Cor. 11:33). The clouds are
   metaphorically called the "windows of heaven" (Gen. 7:11; Mal.
   3:10). The word thus rendered in Isa. 54:12 ought rather to be
   rendered "battlements" (LXX., "bulwarks;" R.V., "pinnacles"), or
   as Gesenius renders it, "notched battlements, i.e., suns or rays
   of the sun"= having a radiated appearance like the sun.
   

WINDOW. An opening made in the wall of a house to admit light and air, and 
to enable those who are in to look out. 
     2. The owner has a right to make as many windows in his house when not 
built on the line of his property as he may deem proper, although by so 
doing be may destroy the privacy of his neighbors. Bac. Ab. Actions in 
general, B. 
     3. In cities and towns it is evident that the owner of a house cannot 
open windows in the partition wall without the consent of the owner of the 
adjoining property, unless he possesses the right of having ancient lights. 
(q.v.) The opening of such windows and destroying the privacy of the 
adjoining property, is not, however, actionable; the remedy against such 
encroachment is by obstructing them, without encroaching upon the rights of 
the party who opened them, so as to prevent a right from being acquired by 
twenty years use. 3 Camp. 82.