gramophone

American  

[gram-uh-fohn] / ˈgræm əˌfoʊn /

noun

1. a phonograph.

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gramophone British  

/ ˌɡræməˈfɒnɪk, ˈɡræməˌfəʊn /

noun

1. 1. US and Canadian name: phonograph.  Also called: acoustic gramophone.  a device for reproducing the sounds stored on a record: now usually applied to the nearly obsolete type that uses a clockwork motor and acoustic horn

   2. ( as modifier )

      a gramophone record

2. the technique and practice of recording sound on disc

   the gramophone has made music widely available

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gramophonic
  adjective
• gramophonically
  adverb
• gramophonical
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gramophone

First recorded in 1887; originally a trademark; apparently inversion of phonogram now obsolete name for a phonographic cylinder

Compare meaning

How does gramophone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• phonograph vs. gramophone

Explanation

A gramophone is an old type of record player. These days, a gramophone is a real antique. A gramophone, like a cassette player, CD player, or MP3 player, is a device for playing music. A gramophone plays records: discs with grooves that are amplified by a needle. It's a relic today, but at one time this turntable device was the chief means by which recorded music made its way to the ears of home listeners. The word was originally a trademark, and inspired the Grammy Awards (originally the Gramophone Awards), which are over fifty years old.

Related Words

• stereo