still frame: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, Technical
Quick answer
What does “still frame” mean?
A single, static image extracted from a sequence of moving pictures (film, video, animation).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A single, static image extracted from a sequence of moving pictures (film, video, animation).
A paused, motionless picture representing a specific moment in time from a continuous visual medium; used for analysis, promotion, or as a visual reference.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage frequency may be higher in US film/TV industry contexts.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in professional film/video contexts in both regions. Slightly more common in everyday UK English might be 'freeze-frame' for the action of pausing, but 'still frame' for the resulting image.
Grammar
How to Use “still frame” in a Sentence
[Verb] a still frame from [Source]The still frame shows [Content][Adjective] still frameVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “still frame” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The director examined a still frame from the rushes to check the lighting.
- Freeze the video and save that still frame as a JPEG.
- The still frame from the security camera was too grainy to identify the suspect.
American English
- We need a high-res still frame from the trailer for the press kit.
- The analysis involved going through the footage still frame by still frame.
- That iconic still frame of the actor is now a popular poster.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing for creating promotional assets from video content.
Academic
Used in film studies, media analysis, and forensic science for detailed examination.
Everyday
Used when discussing pausing a film/TV show to look at something closely.
Technical
Fundamental term in video editing, compression, animation, and broadcast engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “still frame”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “still frame”
- Using 'still frame' to refer to a photograph not derived from video. (A photograph is not a 'still frame' unless it is extracted from a motion sequence).
- Confusing 'still' (adj.) with 'still' (adv.) - e.g., 'The frame is still' vs. 'It's a still frame'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related but not identical. A 'screenshot' is a digital capture of a computer/device screen, which may contain a still frame from a video, but could also capture a webpage, app, etc. 'Still frame' is medium-agnostic (film, video tape, digital) and specifically denotes an image extracted from a motion picture source.
No, 'still frame' is a noun. The action is described with verbs like 'capture', 'extract', 'grab', or 'freeze (a frame)'. You 'take a still frame' from video.
Often used interchangeably for the resulting image. 'Freeze-frame' can more specifically refer to the *technique* of pausing the motion to create the still image, or to a shot in a film where the action appears frozen. 'Still frame' is slightly more neutral and technical for the image itself.
Yes, absolutely. In both traditional and digital animation, a 'still frame' (or often just 'frame') refers to one of the many individual images that compose the moving sequence. It is a fundamental concept.
A single, static image extracted from a sequence of moving pictures (film, video, animation).
Still frame is usually neutral, technical in register.
Still frame: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstɪl ˈfreɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstɪl ˈfreɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Caught in a still frame (metaphorically, trapped in a moment)”
- “Life isn't a series of still frames.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a film STILL moving, then someone shouts 'FRAME it!' and it becomes a single, still picture.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MOTION PICTURE; A MOMENT IS A FRAME.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of a 'still frame'?