camera

¹ American  

[kam-er-uh, kam-ruh] / ˈkæm ər ə, ˈkæm rə /

noun

1. a device for capturing a photographic image or recording a video, using film or digital memory.

2. (in a television transmitting apparatus) the device in which the picture to be televised is formed before it is changed into electric impulses.

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adjective

1. Printing. camera-ready.

idioms

1. on camera, being filmed or televised by a live camera.

   Be sure to look alert when you are on camera.

2. off camera,

   1. out of the range of a video camera, as a television or motion picture camera.

      The stunt woman was waiting just off camera for her cue to enter the scene.

   2. (of an actor) in one’s private rather than professional life.

      The two co-stars are best friends off camera.

camera ² American  

[kam-er-uh] / ˈkæm ər ə /

noun

• camerae
  plural

1. a judge's private office.

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idioms

1. in camera,

   1. Law. in the privacy of a judge's chambers.

   2. privately.

camera British  

/ ˈkæmrə, ˈkæmərə /

noun

1. an optical device consisting of a lens system set in a light-proof construction inside which a light-sensitive film or plate can be positioned See also cine camera digital camera

2. television the equipment used to convert the optical image of a scene into the corresponding electrical signals

3. See camera obscura

4. a judge's private room

5. 1. law relating to a hearing from which members of the public are excluded

   2. in private

6. not within an area being filmed

7. (esp of an actor) being filmed

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• camerae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of camera¹

First recorded in 1730–40; shortening of camera obscura ( def. ); 1840-45 camera ¹ for def. 1; utimately from Latin camera “vaulted room, vault”; see camera ² ( def. )

Origin of camera²

First recorded in 1630–40; for earlier sense “vaulted room,” from Latin, from Greek kamára “vault, vaulted room”; see chamber ( def. )

Explanation

A camera records images in the form of photographs, film or video. If you want evidence that you've spotted Bigfoot in the woods behind your house, you'll need a camera. The noun camera typically refers to a film or digital device that captures still pictures when you press a button. A film camera stores images on a strip of film that must be developed with special chemicals, while a digital camera keeps them on a memory card, and with the help of a computer you can see the pictures almost instantly. The original meaning of camera, "vaulted building," came from Latin via the Greek root kamera, "vaulted chamber."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

camera camerae

Gibson makes a lot of talking head videos, where she films herself speaking and sharing tips directly to the camera, to avoid filming on board.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

Versions of it soon trended online, with users adding edits and jokes and mocking the lighting and camera angles in his video.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

We’re building that out of the institution, camera by camera, contract by contract, and calling it care.

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

Cruise recently hosted an influencer event for “Digger” at which he gave an up-close look at a VistaVision camera used in shooting the movie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

“Quite right,” Salzburg said a little too quickly as he took the camera back out of my hand.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Under the circumstances, if Chaucer ever was a "vallettus camerae Regis," we should expect him to have been so called more than once.

From Chaucer's Official Life by James Root Hulbert

Apparently he returned to court life in England, and to the duties of valettus camerae regis.

From Chaucer and His Times by Grace E. Hadow

Some light is thrown upon these camerae by the inventories of medieval nunneries.

From Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535 by Eileen Power

Chambers, or camerae, monks', 47-50 Chapter House, 30 Charing Cross, 47 f.,

From William de Colchester Abbot of Westminster by Ernest Harold Pearce

Two questions of topography arise here, the position of the Garden and that of the chambers, or "camerae."

From William de Colchester Abbot of Westminster by Ernest Harold Pearce

Related Words

• camcorder