dongle

[ dong-guhl, dawng‐ ]

/ ˈdɒŋ gəl, ˈdɔŋ‐ /

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noun Digital Technology.

a hardware device, paired with a licensed copy of a software program, that must be plugged into a computer to authorize every use of the software: an antipiracy dongle.

a device that can be plugged into a hardware port on a computer, television, or other electronic device, to enable access when connecting devices to peripherals, to the internet, or to each other: a USB dongle for wireless internet access;an HDMI dongle with television apps;a display port dongle to connect the laptop to the projector.

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Origin of dongle

First recorded in 1980–85; probably an arbitrary coinage

Words nearby dongle

Donetsk, dong, donga, Dongen, Don Giovanni, dongle, Dongola, Dongola leather, dong quai, Dongting, donicker

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use dongle in a sentence

Chromecasts are designed to stream media from the web, but you can also use these dongles to cast files saved to your phone, tablet, or computer.
Outsmart your Chromecast and stream anything you want|Sandra Gutierrez|June 15, 2021|Popular-Science
The Google Chromecast may be one of the easiest-to-use streaming dongles out there.
Outsmart your Chromecast and stream anything you want|Sandra Gutierrez|June 15, 2021|Popular-Science
The company nixed the ubiquitous headphone jack from its smartphones, forcing the adoption of Bluetooth ear buds, and has eliminated certain ports in favor of thinness and streamlined design, making users rely on dongles to connect accessories.
Apple locked users into its ecosystem. Tesla wants to do the same with its ‘iPhone on wheels.’|Faiz Siddiqui|May 14, 2021|Washington Post
Galaxy SmartTagSamsung is expanding its SmartThings Find technology to include a stand-alone dongle that resembles a Tile.
Watch Samsung announce its new Galaxy S21 smartphones and Galaxy Buds Pro|Stan Horaczek|January 14, 2021|Popular-Science

Carry on ChromecastingAll the focus on Google TV might make you forget that your new streaming dongle is still a Chromecast.
Seven pro tips for the new Chromecast with Google TV|David Nield|October 29, 2020|Popular-Science
Google's hot new dongle won't wind up being a Roku replacement in my house.
Google Chromecast Enables Web Streaming Over Television|Brian Ries|July 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Out of the gate, the dongle currently supports just three major video platforms: YouTube, Netflix, and Google Play.
Google Chromecast Enables Web Streaming Over Television|Brian Ries|July 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
First, I plugged the 3-inch dongle into the HDMI input on the back of my TV, and plugged it into its power source.
Google Chromecast Enables Web Streaming Over Television|Brian Ries|July 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for dongle

dongle

/ (ˈdɒŋɡəl) /

noun

computing an electronic device that accompanies a software item to prevent the unauthorized copying of programs

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