cartridge

[kahr-trij]

noun

1. Also called cartouche. a cylindrical case of pasteboard, metal, or the like, for holding a complete charge of powder, and often also the bullet or the shot for a rifle, machine gun, or other small arm.

2. a case containing any explosive charge, as for blasting.

3. any small container for powder, liquid, or gas, made for ready insertion into some device or mechanism.

   an ink cartridge for a pen.

4. Also called magazine. Photography.,  a lightproof metal or plastic container for a roll of film, usually containing both the supply and take-up spools, as well as a pressure plate, for rapid loading without the necessity of threading the film.

5. Audio.,  pickup.

6. a flat, compact container enclosing an endless loop of audiotape, operated by inserting into a slot in a player.

cartridge

/ ˈkɑːtrɪdʒ /

noun

1. a cylindrical, usually metal casing containing an explosive charge and often a bullet, for a rifle or other small arms

2. a case for an explosive, such as a blasting charge

3. an electromechanical transducer in the pick-up of a record player, usually either containing a piezoelectric crystal ( crystal cartridge ) or an electromagnet ( magnetic cartridge )

4. a container for magnetic tape that is inserted into a tape deck in audio or video systems. It is about four times the size of a cassette

5. Also called: cassette.  magazine. photog a light-tight film container that enables a camera to be loaded and unloaded in normal light

6. computing a removable unit in a printer which contains black or coloured ink

7. computing a removable unit in a computer, such as an integrated circuit, containing software

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartridge¹

1570–80; earlier cartage, cartrage, alteration of cartouche

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartridge¹

C16: from earlier cartage, variant of _cartouche (cartridge)

Example Sentences

The device contains a swappable cartridge that needs to be replaced after about three months.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The jury was told that the bullet and its cartridge were both recovered by investigating officers who concluded they probably came from a converted starter pistol.

Read more on BBC

Investigators collected 29 spent 9mm and .40 caliber cartridge casings and numerous bullet fragments from the scene, an evidence log shows.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They then threw away the cut up weapons including the spent cartridges inside a borehole.

Read more on BBC

The fourth cartridge read: "If you Read This, You Are GAY Lmao" – another online reference.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bullet 
• cassette 
• cylinder 
• tube