camera

[ kam-er-uh, kam-ruh ]

/ ˈkæm ər ə, ˈkæm rə /

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See synonyms for camera on Thesaurus.com

noun,

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

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

adjective

Printing. camera-ready.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about camera

off camera,

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.
(of an actor) in one’s private rather than professional life: The two co-stars are best friends off camera.

on camera, being filmed or televised by a live camera: Be sure to look alert when you are on camera.

Origin of camera

First recorded in 1730–40; shortening of camera obscura; 1840-45 for def. 1; utimately from Latin camera “vaulted room, vault”; see camera²

Words nearby camera

Camembert, Camenae, cameo, cameo glass, cameo ware, camera, cameral, cameralist, cameralistic, camera lucida, cameraman

Other definitions for camera (2 of 2)

camera²

[ kam-er-uh ]

/ ˈkæm ər ə /

noun, plural cam·er·ae

[kam-uh-ree]. /ˈkæm ə ri/.

a judge's private office.

Origin of camera

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use camera in a sentence

Some districts have policies stating that students can’t be required to keep their cameras on.
Kids are shooting hoops with rolled up socks, but pandemic physical education is not canceled|Kelly Field|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
He doesn’t say anything, and the camera doesn’t catch his expression.
What floor?|Sophia Nguyen|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Gertrude the pig rooted around a straw-filled pen, oblivious to the cameras and onlookers — and the 1,024 electrodes eavesdropping on her brain signals.
Can privacy coexist with technology that reads and changes brain activity?|Laura Sanders|February 11, 2021|Science News
They are clearly playing to the cameras, to the public all the time.
House impeachment managers emphasize the danger to Pence and other top officials in harrowing retelling of Jan. 6 attack|Amy Gardner, Karoun Demirjian, Felicia Sonmez, Paul Kane|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

Mountainous nose tackle Vita Vea, wearing Oakley goggles and a T-shirt with Brady’s scouting combine photo on it, took control of a Fox News camera.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrate Super Bowl LV victory in boat parade|Cindy Boren, Glynn A. Hill|February 10, 2021|Washington Post
Open-carry activists are known for baiting cops into on-camera arguments about the Second Amendment and state laws.
Texas Gun Slingers Police the Police—With a Black Panthers Tactic|Brandy Zadrozny|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We also see her physically battling Sheriff Clark, but the camera focuses on her falling to the ground.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The camera passes to each hostage in turn to allow them to plead with the Lebanese government to let them live.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He subtly gestured toward the direction of the camera pointed at their house.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We see photographs of him with his arm around Joan Jett, two punks mugging for the camera.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A leather cased camera was suspended from his bull neck by means of a strap.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
He ran from the stamping mill, his camera bobbing from the strap around his neck and his tripod dragging behind him.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
In this vicinity are the Burnham beeches, made known almost everywhere by the camera and the brush of the artist.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
In fact, if we should peek in the back of the camera, and to do so would ruin the exposure, we could not even see it.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
Now if we could look inside the camera and the image were visible, we would see that it was upside down.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various

British Dictionary definitions for camera

camera

/ (ˈkæmərə, ˈkæmrə) /

noun

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

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

See camera obscura

plural -erae (-əˌriː) a judge's private room

in camera

law relating to a hearing from which members of the public are excluded
in private

off camera not within an area being filmed

on camera (esp of an actor) being filmed

Word Origin for camera

C18: from Latin: vault, from Greek kamara

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

camera

Idioms about camera

Origin of camera

Words nearby camera

Other definitions for camera (2 of 2)

Origin of camera

Words related to camera

How to use camera in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for camera

Word Origin for camera