set-top

American

[set-top] / ˈsɛtˌtɒp /

adjective

denoting a device designed to sit atop a television and serve as a link to interactive communications systems.

set-top boxes that allow viewers to order movies on demand.

Etymology

Origin of set-top

First recorded in 1990–95

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.

Users record from the Toosheh satellite TV channel onto a USB stick plugged into their set-top box, which they can then decrypt using a special app installed on their phone or computer.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Michael Ramsay, TiVo’s co-founder, blamed the price, arguing that DVRs wouldn’t reach mass-market penetration until they were priced as about a $100 “add-on” to cable set-top boxes.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

"When we went into the spare bedroom, there were 20 or 30 set-top boxes linked together."

From BBC • May 30, 2023

Cheney found that the Peloton, Lululemon and iFit streaming-capable products infringed patents related to Dish's Hopper set-top boxes.

From Reuters • Mar. 8, 2023

They have handed out Russian passports, cellphone numbers and set-top boxes for watching Russian television.

From New York Times • Jul. 30, 2022

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023