phonograph

American  

[foh-nuh-graf, -grahf] / ˈfoʊ nəˌgræf, -ˌgrɑf /

noun

1. any sound-reproducing machine using records in the form of cylinders or discs.

---

phonograph British  

/ ˈfəʊnəˌɡrɑːf, -ˌɡræf /

noun

1. an early form of gramophone capable of recording and reproducing sound on wax cylinders

2. Also called: gramophone.   record player.  a device for reproducing the sounds stored on a record: now usually applied to the nearly obsolete type that uses a clockwork motor and acoustic horn

---

Etymology

Origin of phonograph

1825–35 in sense “phonogram”; 1877 for the “talking phonograph” invented by T. A. Edison; phono- + -graph

Compare meaning

How does phonograph compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• phonograph vs. gramophone
• phonograph vs. record player

Example Sentences

In the home, a rich family might have one of the new phonographs that played music stored on wax cylinders, but most families were still making their own music, using sheet music or songbooks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The phonograph and the player piano together brought technological musical reproduction into the home in the early 1900s.

From The Wall Street Journal

“My mother played opera on the phonograph for me,” Vivian replied.

From Literature

It was also one of the first songs ever recorded, and the tune with which Thomas Edison’s phonograph was introduced to the London press on Aug. 14, 1888.

From The Wall Street Journal

A few years ago, Mr. Edison invented an amazing machine called a phonograph.

From Literature

Related Words

• stereo