shutter

UK: ˈʃʌtə | US: ˈʃʌt̬ɚ

Definition

  1. n. a movable cover for a window or opening

  2. n. a device on a camera that opens and closes to allow light in for a photograph

  3. vt. to close or cover with shutters

Structure
shut <close>er <agent noun suffix>
Etymology

shutter = shut<close> + er<agent noun suffix>

  • shut (from Old English scyttan, meaning "to close or bar")
  • -er (agentive suffix, indicating a device or tool performing an action)

Etymology Origin:
The word "shutter" emerged in Middle English (14th century) as a combination of "shut" (the verb "to close") and the suffix "-er," denoting an object that performs the action. Originally referring to window coverings, its meaning expanded to include camera mechanisms in the 19th century, reflecting technological advancements. The logic is straightforward: a "shutter" is literally "a thing that shuts."

Examples

  1. She closed the wooden shutters to block out the sunlight.

  2. The camera’s shutter speed affects the exposure of the photo.

  3. They decided to shutter the business after years of declining profits.

  4. The storm forced us to shutter all the windows tightly.

  5. A fast shutter is essential for capturing sharp images of moving subjects.