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poster

n. · v.
US //ˈpoʊstɝ// UK //pˈəʊstɐ// poster
  1. 1 wall decoration (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a large printed picture of a famous person or a place that you put on a wall for decoration.

    a large printed image, often of a celebrity or artistic subject, intended for display on a vertical surface.

    Example

    He had a large poster of his favourite band on his bedroom wall.

    Example

    The teenager's room was plastered with vintage movie posters, reflecting a sophisticated interest in mid-century cinema.
  2. 2 advertisement (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a large notice or sign used to advertise an event or a product in a public place.

    a placard or bill posted in a public place to advertise a product, service, or upcoming event.

    Example

    I saw a poster for the local food festival at the bus stop.

    Example

    The campaign relied heavily on eye-catching posters displayed in high-traffic underground stations to build brand awareness before the product launch.
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  1. 3 internet user (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

    someone who shares a message, photo, or comment on a website or social media.

    an individual who submits content, such as messages or media, to an online forum, social network, or comment section.

    Example

    The original poster asked for advice on how to fix a broken laptop.

    Example

    Moderators often have to intervene when a frequent poster violates the community guidelines by sharing inflammatory content.

    Usage

    Often used in the initialism 'OP' to refer to the 'original poster' of a thread.
    • lurker
  2. 4 basketball dunk (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang American English Sport

    a powerful jump and score in basketball over a player from the other team.

    a forceful dunk performed over a defending player, often resulting in a visually impressive play.

    Example

    The crowd went wild after his incredible poster in the final minute.

    Example

    The rookie's aggressive poster over the veteran centre became the most-watched highlight of the season.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is highly specific to basketball culture and is rarely used in other contexts.
  3. 5 to cover with signs (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to put many posters up on a wall or in an area.

    to decorate or cover a surface or area with posters.

    Example

    They decided to poster the entire neighbourhood to find their lost cat.

    Example

    Activists spent the night postering the city centre with slogans demanding immediate environmental reform.

    Usage

    This verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the surface or area being covered.
Etymology 1

From post + -er.

Etymology 2

From post + -er, from post (“travel, dispatch”).

Idioms3 entries

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