Open Dictionary
mouse here to listen, click to choose/add more
Location: USA
Source: Learn That Word
Profile URL: www.learnthat.org

Are you a native English speaker? How do you pronounce this word?

Thank you for contributing!
upload mp3 file or record now it's easy, promised!

{%type%} Definitions

WordNet 3.0Copyright Princeton University
{%wordnet%}
Definitions.net
{%definitions_com%}

Videos

Short "hint"

(film) a plot element that catches the viewers' attention or drives the plot.

edit
Usage examples (35)
  • Actually thinking on it now I don't think my McGuffin is anywhere near the right one ... what's yours?
  • A McGuffin is an item in the story that drives the plot or characters.
  • How can it be engrossing when the McGuffin is such a vile piece of work.
  • If you don't want details, the MacGuffin -- sometimes "McGuffin" -- is a device of some kind that gets the plot rolling in a story.
...click for more
Tutoring comment


Tutoring comment not yet available...

add more
The Open Dictionary of English is a collaborative project, based on Open Source materials, LearnThat resources, and partner APIs.
We give special thanks to our LearnThat volunteers, as well as Princeton University and Wiktionary for their Open Source word data. We're also grateful for the support given by Google, Wordnik.com, Dictionary.com, Stands4.com and YouTube, OEDILF.com, Kylescholz.com, Best-Practice.com, Forvo.com, as well as the generous Creative Commons community.