# shutter

/ˈʃətɝ/ (US) · /ʃˈʌtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shutter
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. window cover

noun · CEFR B1

a pair of wooden or metal covers on the outside of a window that you can close to keep out light or protect the glass.

For teachers: a hinged or removable screen or cover for a window, typically used for security, privacy, or light control.

- She closed the wooden shutters to keep the house cool during the hot afternoon.
- The traditional Mediterranean villas are often painted white with bright blue shutters to reflect the intense summer heat.

### 2. camera part

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the part of a camera that opens and closes to let light reach the film or sensor.

For teachers: a device that allows light to pass for a determined period, exposing photographic film or a photosensitive digital sensor to light in order to capture an image.

- You need a fast shutter speed to take a clear photo of a moving car.
- By using a slow shutter speed, the photographer captured the movement of the waterfall as a smooth, white blur.

### 3. to close a business

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to close a business, factory, or shop permanently.

For teachers: to cease operations or close a facility, often permanently or for a significant duration.

- The company decided to shutter its local branch after sales dropped.
- Economic pressures forced the manufacturing giant to shutter several of its oldest plants, resulting in widespread job losses across the region.

### 4. to cover with shutters

verb · CEFR B2

to close the shutters on a window.

For teachers: to provide or close up with shutters; often used in the context of preparing for a storm.

- They spent the morning shuttering the windows before the hurricane arrived.
- The residents were advised to shutter their homes and move inland before the gale-force winds reached the coast.

## Examples

- The camera shutter clicks when I press the button.
- Using a fast shutter speed allows you to capture sharp images of moving objects without any blur.
- The photographer adjusted the shutter to a longer exposure time to capture the soft, flowing motion of the waterfall against the static rocks.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.