film
film — noun
1. a recorded story presented as moving images with sound, intended for viewing in
a recorded story presented as moving images with sound, intended for viewing in a theatre or on a personal screen.
We watched a film about a young girl who travels across Japan on foot.
film about [topic]
Christopher offered to rent a comedy film for the family movie night.
That film was so popular the cinema added extra evening showings.
A short film about local fishermen won the top award at the festival.
- movie
more common in American English; interchangeable in most contexts
- motion picture
formal or dated; used in awards shows and historical contexts
- picture
shortened form, dated in British English ('the pictures' = cinema)
文法句型
film + about + topic
a + film
常見錯誤
2. a narrow strip of light-sensitive material placed inside a camera to create and
a narrow strip of light-sensitive material placed inside a camera to create and store photographic images.
The photographer loaded a roll of film into her camera before the wedding.
roll of film
Even with digital cameras everywhere, Tanvi still prefers to shoot on film.
The old roll of film in that drawer had faded and no clear image remained.
Mira bought three rolls of black-and-white film for her photography class.
- film stock
technical term for unexposed film in the motion-picture industry
- negative
the developed image on film, not the unused material
文法句型
roll of film
on film
用法筆記
In everyday consumer photography, digital cameras have largely replaced film; however, the term remains common among professional photographers, in historical contexts, and for analogue/darkroom techniques.
常見錯誤
3. a very thin covering of a substance on a surface, often forming naturally or thr
a very thin covering of a substance on a surface, often forming naturally or through use.
A thin film of oil floated on top of the soup in the bowl.
thin film of [substance]
After a week away, a film of dust covered every shelf in the apartment.
The cold night left a film of ice on the surface of the pond.
She wiped a film of grease off the kitchen tiles with a damp cloth.
文法句型
film of [substance]
用法筆記
Often used with 'thin' to emphasise how little substance is present. The substance is typically unwanted or accidental (dust, oil, grease, ice), not an intentionally applied coating like paint.
4. the art, business, or profession of making movies, including writing, directing,
the art, business, or profession of making movies, including writing, directing, producing, and distributing them.
Antonia studied film at university and later became a director in Mumbai.
study film
The film industry in New Zealand grew rapidly after the early 2000s.
Hamza wrote a book about the history of Japanese film.
After earning her degree in film, Shanti found work as an editor in Vancouver.
- cinema
more common in British English for the art/industry (e.g. 'French cinema')
- the movies
informal, American, covers both the industry and the experience of going to see films
- motion-picture industry
formal and somewhat dated
文法句型
in film
study film
用法筆記
Used without an article: 'She works in film' (the industry), NOT 'She works in a film' (which would mean she appears in one specific movie). British English often uses 'cinema' for this sense (e.g. 'the history of French cinema').
常見錯誤
5. a thin transparent plastic material used for wrapping food to keep it fresh or t
a thin transparent plastic material used for wrapping food to keep it fresh or to cover containers.
Abigail covered the bowl of rice with plastic film before putting it in the fridge.
plastic film / cover with film
Christopher wrapped the leftover sandwiches in film so they would not dry out.
Instead of plastic film, many people now use reusable beeswax wraps.
The recipe says to cover the dough with film and let it rest an hour.
- cling film
standard British term for food wrap
- plastic wrap
standard American term
- Saran wrap
brand name used generically in American English
用法筆記
In everyday British English, 'cling film' is the common term; in American English, 'plastic wrap' or 'Saran wrap' (a brand name) is used. The word 'film' alone for this sense is less common in casual speech but widely understood.
film — verb
1. to capture moving images of a person, scene, or event using a camera, typically
to capture moving images of a person, scene, or event using a camera, typically to create a movie or television programme.
The crew filmed the wedding scene from a helicopter above the church.
film [scene] from [location]
A Peruvian film crew filmed the entire documentary in the mountains of northern Peru.
The interview was filmed in front of a live studio audience.
Eve filmed her younger brother learning to ride a bicycle in the park.
- shoot
more common in professional filmmaking; suggests deliberate, planned recording
- record
broader; can include audio-only or digital video on any device
- capture on film
more formal or literary
文法句型
film + [person/place/event]
film + [scene/documentary]
film + in/on [location]
用法筆記
Also used without an object: 'It was raining, so we decided not to film today.' In professional contexts, 'to shoot' is more common than 'to film' (e.g. 'We start shooting next week').