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Glite Dictionary
masking piece

masking piece

9.5
A piece of stage scenery that hides parts of the stage from the audience
  • noun
  • Jargon
translation icon : pieza de enmascarar
  • The stage manager adjusted the masking piece to ensure the audience couldn't see the wings.

Examples

  • The stage crew placed a masking piece to hide the backstage area.

  • A tall masking piece was placed at the side of the stage to hide the lighting equipment.

  • Designers debated where to position the masking piece for the best concealment of scenery changes.

  • Can you adjust the masking piece for better visibility?

  • A tall masking piece was placed at the side of the stage to hide the lighting equipment.

  • Designers debated where to position the masking piece for the best concealment of scenery changes.

  • The stage manager adjusted the masking piece to ensure the audience couldn't see the wings.

Synonyms

scenery
vsmasking piece
  • Specialized
15 3.0

Painted backgrounds and pieces on a stage that show where a play happens

is the general collective term for stage visuals rather than a specific concealing item
drop
vsmasking piece
  • Specialized
6 7.1

A large painted curtain lowered onto a stage as a background

often serves as scenic background not primarily made to hide backstage areas
teaser
vsmasking piece
  • Jargon
1 8.0

A narrow curtain at the side of a stage to hide the wings

is used more generally to hide various unseen stage areas rather than only sides
set piece
vsmasking piece
1 6.8

A single item of stage scenery like a painted tree

is meant to block unseen areas rather than represent a location or object
tormentor
vsmasking piece
  • Jargon
1 9.9

A flat piece at the side of a stage that hides the area where actors wait

is used to block many stage parts not only the sides
coulisse
vsmasking piece
  • Specialized
9.9

A flat painted board at the side of a stage that hides backstage and makes the scene look deeper

often also creates depth while the key only blocks unseen parts
theater curtain
vsmasking piece
  • US
2.7

A large heavy cloth that hides the stage and opens or closes for a show

hides parts of the stage selectively rather than covering the entire stage
drop curtain
vsmasking piece
  • Specialized
5.1

A large curtain hung above the stage that lowers to make background scenery

is used to hide specific unseen areas rather than only serve as backdrop
drop cloth
vsmasking piece
  • Specialized
4.8

A large curtain that people lower from above to make a background on a stage

is mainly a background element rather than a piece made to conceal areas
backcloth
vsmasking piece
  • UK
8.2

A large cloth that hangs at the back of a stage as scenery

serves as background rather than selectively blocking unseen stage parts

How Concealing

masking piece
  • Jargon
9.5
flat
  • Specialized
7 8.1
backdrop
80 3.9
scrim
  • Specialized
6 8.7

Surface Forms

masking piece singular
masking pieces plural

Morphology

masking + piece

The meaning 'a piece of scenery used to block the audience's view' is directly derivable from combining 'masking' (covering or hiding) with 'piece' (a portion/object) — literally a 'piece that masks'. This is a regular compound noun formation and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun masking piece comes from the theatre, where a flat piece at the side of the stage was used for masking, which means 'to hide' the wings and equipment. So a masking piece is a piece of scenery used to block the audience's view.