album

American  

[al-buhm] / ˈæl bəm /

noun

1. 1. a bound or loose-leaf book consisting of blank pages, pockets, envelopes, etc., for storing or displaying photographs, stamps, or the like, or for collecting autographs.

   2. a digital collection of photographs, stored on a computer or mobile device for viewing, displaying, or sharing.

2. 1. a record or set of records containing several musical selections, a complete play or opera, etc..

      Her album of folk songs will be out next month.

   2. the package or container for such a record or records.

      The album has a pocket for each record.

   3. a collection of audio recordings released together as a collected work.

      The digital release of their debut album sold more copies than expected.

3. a printed book containing an anthology of writings, reproductions of photographs or artwork, musical compositions, etc.

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album British  

/ ˈælbəm /

noun

1. a book or binder consisting of blank pages, pockets, or envelopes for keeping photographs, stamps, autographs, drawings, poems, etc

2. one or more CDs, cassettes, or long-playing records released as a single item

3. a booklike holder containing sleeves for gramophone records

4. an anthology, usually large and illustrated

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Etymology

Origin of album

First recorded in 1610–20; 1955–60 album for def. 2; from Latin: neuter singular of albus “white,” i.e., a blank (tablet) painted white for writing on

Explanation

An album is a book of photographs, mementos, or a collection of some other kind — like music. As digital forms of photographs and music become more popular, albums are becoming a thing of the past. A photo album is full of pictures, and a stamp collector's album contains stamps from different countries. Another kind of album is a collection of songs, either on a record or a CD. In Latin, album means "white," and in ancient times it referred to a blank tablet. 16th century German academics kept what they called an album amicorum, or a collection of colleagues' signatures, and from there album came to mean "souvenir book."

Example Sentences

Mis-Teeq's second studio album Eye Candy featured what became their best known hit, Scandalous, a more traditional pop-R&B song which also charted in the US after being used in the 2004 film Catwoman.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Porter released four solo albums in his career — 2018’s “The Optimist,” 2019’s “Force for Good,” and 2022’s “Resilience,” along with his 2017 children’s album “Spangle-Lang Lane” — each featuring arrangements from his lifelong bandmates.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

He claims to have found a copy of “Lunch on a Beam,” also known as “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” at an Austrian department store in 1989 and recognized it from an old family album.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Noughties girl group Mis-Teeq have confirmed they will reunite two decades after their split, with a show in London to celebrate the anniversary of their first album.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Old as that album was back then, it was like waking up after being asleep my whole life.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• collection
• scrapbook