Wiktionary
n. (context film English) A master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene used to inform the audience of the location or situation.
Wikipedia
An establishing shot in filmmaking and television production sets up, or establishes the context for a scene by showing the relationship between its important figures and objects. It is generally a long or extreme-long shot at the beginning of a scene indicating where, and sometimes when, the remainder of the scene takes place.
Establishing shots were more common during the classical era of filmmaking than they are now. Today's filmmakers tend to skip the establishing shot in order to move the scene along more quickly. In addition, the expositional nature of the shot (as described above) may be unsuitable to scenes in mysteries, where details are intentionally obscured or left out.
Usage examples of "establishing shot".
They had a view of the Boulevard--Grauman's Chinese included--great for an establishing shot.
If you must show me, let it be in a wide establishing shot in front of the table.
When she finally managed to reframe her establishing shot, the Ethiopian team had almost reached the bottom of the ramp.
A writer had said: ESTABLISHING SHOT OF CROWD IN ALLEY and it was going to cost about fifteen thousand dollars to make that line become a reality.
The left remained stabilized on the establishing shot, recording a solid image she would use mainly as earlier reporters had used sound recorders.
It was the sort of house that might appear in an establishing shot for a television family show, something that might come on at 8:00 P.