display

pronunciation

How to pronounce display in British English: UK [dɪˈspleɪ] word uk audio image

How to pronounce display in American English: US [dɪˈspleɪ] word us audio image

Noun:

something intended to communicate a particular impression
something shown to the public
an electronic device that represents information in visual form
a visual representation of something
behavior that makes your feelings public
exhibiting openly in public view
Verb:

to show, make visible or apparent
make clear and visible
attract attention by displaying some body part or posing; of animals

Word Origin

display: display: [14] Display originally meant ‘unfold’, and it is related not to modern English play but to ply. It comes via Old French despleier (whose modern French descendant, déployer, is the source of English deploy [18]) from Latin displicāre. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix dis- ‘un-’ and plicāre ‘fold’ (source of or related to English accomplish, complicated, ply, and simple), and in classical Latin seems only to have had the metaphorical meaning ‘scatter’.In medieval Latin, however, it returned to its underlying literal sense ‘unfold’, which was originally retained in English, particularly with reference to sails or flags. The notion of ‘spreading out’ is retained in splay, which was formed by lopping off the first syllable of display in the 14th century.=> accomplish, complicate, deploy, ply, simple

display (v.): late 13c., "unfurl" (a banner, etc.), from Old French desploiir (Modern French déployer) "unfold, unfasten, spread out" (of knots, sealed letters, etc.), from Latin displicare "to scatter," from dis- "un-, apart" (see dis-) + plicare "to fold" (see ply (v.1)). Properly of sails or flags (and unconnected to play); meaning "reveal, exhibit" is late 14c. Related: Displayed; displaying.

display (n.): 1580s, "description," from display (v.). Meaning "exhibition" is from 1680s.

vt.

vt.