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 ( def 8 ).
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 calledcassettemagazine 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

He writes that he discovered thousands of cartridge casings on the barricades, apparently fired from the police squads.

From The Daily Beast

The newer stove augments the ballot smoke, which is always black unless a chemical cartridge is added to turn it white.

From The Daily Beast

A cartridge for white smoke is waiting if the vote proves decisive.

From The Daily Beast

A revolver does not discharge cartridge casings, as has been endlessly speculated.

From The Daily Beast

I predict that, in one month from the date of this letter, there will not be an Austrian or Prussian cartridge found in France.

From Project Gutenberg

Roly felt justified in using another cartridge at once to put her out of suffering.

From Project Gutenberg

A bit of dirt had found its way in somewhere, and he had to shake the gun violently before the cartridge would move.

From Project Gutenberg

David supplied another cartridge, and at the second shot Roly brought down the game.

From Project Gutenberg

While speaking Lieutenant Overton was fastening on his own recovered revolver and cartridge box.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bullet
• cassette
• cylinder
• tube