camera

¹

[ kam-er-uh, kam-ruh ]

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.

adjective

1. Printing. camera-ready.

camera

²

[ kam-er-uh ]

noun

, plural cam·er·ae [kam, -, uh, -ree].

1. a judge's private office.

camera

/ ˈkæmrə; ˈkæmərə /

noun

1. See digital camera, cine camera
   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
   See camera obscura
4. -erae-əˌriː a judge's private room
5. in camera
   in camera
   1. law relating to a hearing from which members of the public are excluded
   2. in private
6. off camera
   off camera not within an area being filmed
7. on camera
   on camera (esp of an actor) being filmed

Word History and Origins

Origin of camera¹

First recorded in 1730–40; shortening of camera obscura ( def ); 1840-45 camera ¹fordef 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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of camera¹

C18: from Latin: vault, from Greek kamara

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in camera,
   1. Law. in the privacy of a judge's chambers.
   2. privately.
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.

3. on camera, being filmed or televised by a live camera:

   Be sure to look alert when you are on camera.

Example Sentences

Some districts have policies stating that students can’t be required to keep their cameras on.

From Washington Post

He doesn’t say anything, and the camera doesn’t catch his expression.

From 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.

From Science News

They are clearly playing to the cameras, to the public all the time.

From 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.

From Washington Post

Open-carry activists are known for baiting cops into on-camera arguments about the Second Amendment and state laws.

From The Daily Beast

We also see her physically battling Sheriff Clark, but the camera focuses on her falling to the ground.

From The Daily Beast

The camera passes to each hostage in turn to allow them to plead with the Lebanese government to let them live.

From The Daily Beast

He subtly gestured toward the direction of the camera pointed at their house.

From The Daily Beast

We see photographs of him with his arm around Joan Jett, two punks mugging for the camera.

From The Daily Beast

A leather cased camera was suspended from his bull neck by means of a strap.

From Project Gutenberg

He ran from the stamping mill, his camera bobbing from the strap around his neck and his tripod dragging behind him.

From Project Gutenberg

In this vicinity are the Burnham beeches, made known almost everywhere by the camera and the brush of the artist.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Now if we could look inside the camera and the image were visible, we would see that it was upside down.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• camcorder