Film

Film Film, n. [AS. film skin, fr. fell skin; akin to fylmen membrane, OFries. filmene skin. See {Fell} skin.] 1. A thin skin; a pellicle; a membranous covering, causing opacity. [1913 Webster]

He from thick films shall purge the visual ray. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. hence, any thin layer covering a surface. [1913 Webster +PJC]

3. A slender thread, as that of a cobweb. [1913 Webster]

Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. (Photog.) The layer, usually of gelatin or collodion, containing the sensitive salts of photographic plates. [PJC]

5. (Photog.) a flexible sheet of celluloid or other plastic material to which a light-sensitive layer has been applied, used for recording images by the processes of photography. It is commonly used in rolls mounted within light-proof canisters suitable for simple insertion into cameras designed for such canisters. On such rolls, varying numbers of photographs may be taken before the canister needs to be replaced. [PJC]

6. a motion picture. [PJC]

7. the art of making motion pictures; -- used mostly in the phrase the film. [PJC]

8. a thin transparent sheet of plastic, used for wrapping objects; as, polyethylene film. [PJC]

{Celluloid film} (Photog.), a thin flexible sheet of celluloid, coated with a sensitized emulsion of gelatin, and used as a substitute for photographic plates.

{Cut film} (Photog.), a celluloid film cut into pieces suitable for use in a camera. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]