recording

American  

[ri-kawr-ding] / rɪˈkɔr dɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or practice of a person or thing that records.

2. sound recorded on a disk or tape.

3. a disk or tape on which something is recorded.

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recording British  

/ rɪˈkɔːdɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the act or process of making a record, esp of sound on a gramophone record or magnetic tape

   2. ( as modifier )

      recording studio

      recording head

2. the record or tape so produced

3. something that has been recorded, esp a radio or television programme

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Etymology

Origin of recording

1300–50; Middle English (gerund); see record, -ing ¹

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

Gold, as we know, went on a furious run in 2025, recording its largest annual gain since 1979.

From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026

Now, he’s relegated his studio space to a spot for recording Cameos, perched in front of a ring light rather than an easel.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

Sykes told Radio 1's Rock Show that after originally recording Count Your Blessings as a 19-year-old, he felt "really bummed out about how it sounded".

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Yet the star’s presence — in a Spanish-language chorus whose lyrics Bieber learned phonetically over the course of a four-hour recording session — turned “Despacito” into a global juggernaut.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

No one moved, but plenty of people held up cell phones, still recording the event.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty