noun
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the act or process of making a record, esp of sound on a gramophone record or magnetic tape
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( as modifier )
recording studio
recording head
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the record or tape so produced
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something that has been recorded, esp a radio or television programme
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of recording
Explanation
A recording is the recorded audio that's stored on a tape or an electronic device. If you make a recording of your history class lecture, you'll be able to listen to it later when you study for the midterm exam (or when you want to nod off to sleep). The business of making and selling popular songs can be called "the recording industry," and you can also talk about a recording of your favorite jazz album. In addition to audio recordings, there are also video recordings, like the one you take of your little brother's dance recital or soccer game. Recording comes from the verb record, which we can trace back to the Latin recordari, "remember, call to mind, or be mindful of."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Watch the recording to catch their lively discussion about how influencers have transformed media, storytelling, and entertainment.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
Beer has been nominated for two Grammy Awards — best immersive audio album for “Silence Between Songs” in 2024 and best dance pop recording for “make you mine” in 2025.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Sales from directly operated stores were still negative, recording a 2% decline on a comparable basis, but improved 7 percentage points compared with the previous three months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Participants are asked to spend 15 minutes recording butterflies and day-flying moths they spot in gardens, parks and other green spaces.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
I had made up my mind that recording both of my grandparents’ stories was an important project not just for school, but for me and my family.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
The format marked a departure from his tightly scripted recordings.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Monopoly Events said a number of guests had told the company they would be reluctant to appear at Comic-Con shows again after cases of recordings taking place without their knowledge.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Within 60 minutes of taking the 25 mg dose, EEG recordings showed a rise in brain entropy.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
Sony Music Entertainment on Monday filed a new lawsuit against artificial intelligence startup Udio, alleging it infringed on more than 30,000 recordings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
The Supreme Court had ruled unanimously that Nixon must turn over his White House recordings.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
