scene

[seen]

noun

1. the place where some action or event occurs.

   He returned to the scene of the accident.

   Synonyms: focus, center, location, stage, arena

2. any view or picture.

   The scene that lay before me, with its snow and colorful leaves, was beautiful.

3. an incident or situation in real life.

   She witnessed the scene at the restaurant as it happened.

   Synonyms: episode

4. an embarrassing outbreak or display of anger, strong feeling, or bad manners.

   Please don't make a scene in such a public place.

   Synonyms: show, spectacle, demonstration

5. a division of a play or of an act of a play, usually representing a passage of time in a single setting, featuring a specific character or group of characters.

   Scene Four takes place in a city park at dawn.

6. a unit of action or a segment of a story in a play, motion picture, or television show.

   The DVD contains many short scenes showing classic plane models at U.S. and European airports.

7. the place in which the action of a play or part of a play is supposed to occur.

8. scenery.

9. Literature.

   1. an episode, situation, or the like, as in a narrative.

   2. the setting or locale of a story.

10. the stage, especially of an ancient Greek or Roman theater.

11. an area or sphere of activity, current interest, etc..

    the rock music scene;

    the fashion scene.

scene

/ siːn /

noun

1. the place where an action or event, real or imaginary, occurs

2. the setting for the action of a play, novel, etc

3. an incident or situation, real or imaginary, esp as described or represented

4. 1. a subdivision of an act of a play, in which the time is continuous and the setting fixed

   2. a single event, esp a significant one, in a play

5. films a shot or series of shots that constitutes a unit of the action

6. the backcloths, stage setting, etc, for a play or film set; scenery

7. the prospect of a place, landscape, etc

8. a display of emotion, esp an embarrassing one to the onlookers

9. informal,  the environment for a specific activity

   the fashion scene

10. informal,  interest or chosen occupation

    classical music is not my scene

11. rare,  the stage, esp of a theatre in ancient Greece or Rome

12. out of public view; privately

Other Word Forms

• interscene noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scene¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin scēna “background” (of the stage), from Greek skēnḗ “booth” (where actors dressed)

Word History and Origins

Origin of scene¹

C16: from Latin scēna theatrical stage, from Greek skēnē tent, stage

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make the scene, to appear in a particular place or engage in a particular activity.

   Let's make the scene downtown tonight. She was never one to make the drug scene.

2. behind the scenes. behind the scenes.

see behind the scenes; make a scene; make the scene; on the scene; set the scene for.

Synonym Study

See view.

Example Sentences

The medical scenes and discussions are frank, informative and often sobering.

Read more on Salon

The court heard that Fox and his friends remained at the scene after the crash while paramedics arrived.

Read more on BBC

“Whatever the results, they are likely to be market moving and could well set the scene for the investor outlook for the remainder of the year,” Interactive Investor head of markets Richard Hunter writes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

So getting to that scene, I thought, we have a cool opportunity in a movie that’s got all types of supernatural s— that’s in the vampire tradition.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it was an "absolutely shocking tragedy", adding that her thoughts are with their family and friends as well as the emergency workers who attended the scene.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• arena 
• display 
• landscape 
• location 
• picture 
• place 
• scenery 
• set 
• setting 
• show 
• sight 
• site 
• spectacle 
• spot 
• stage 
• theater 
• view