stereo

[ ster-ee-oh, steer- ]

/ ˈstɛr iˌoʊ, ˈstɪər- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stereo ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ster·e·os.

stereoscopic photography.

a stereoscopic photograph.

stereophonic sound reproduction.

a system or the equipment for reproducing stereophonic sound.

Printing. stereotype(defs 1, 2).

adjective

pertaining to stereophonic sound, stereoscopic photography, etc.

verb (used with object)

Printing. stereotype(def 5).

RELATED WORDS

radio, phonograph, hi-fi, gramophone

Nearby words

Origin of stereo

First recorded in 1815–25; by shortening

Definition for stereo (2 of 3)

stereo.

stereotype.

Definition for stereo (3 of 3)

stereo-

a combining form borrowed from Greek, where it meant “solid”, used with reference to hardness, solidity, three-dimensionality in the formation of compound words: stereochemistry; stereogram; stereoscope.

Also especially before a vowel, stere-.

Origin of stereo-

From the Greek word stereós

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for stereo

It worked at home as a secondary computer to run Pandora through the stereo and such tasks.
Errors in the Field|Michael Tomasky|April 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When we first started playing, we played for five minutes and the stereo broke.
Phoenix on New Album ‘Bankrupt!’ and Journey to Rock Superstardom|Marlow Stern|April 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Foster believes that Holmes used a stereo timer to set the music to start playing at midnight.
Explosion of James Holmes’ Apartment Would Have Been ‘Catastrophic’|Christine Pelisek, Eliza Shapiro|July 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
You can stream your music from a Windows PC through your Xbox into your stereo.
Can Microsoft Come Back? Dan Lyons’s Month Without Apple and Google|Dan Lyons|April 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The leading indicator for his comeback has already spoken via a clear, stereo signal.
Chris Brown's Shocking Comeback|Seth Colter Walls|February 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
By an oversight a stereo of the penny value was dropped into the fourpenny plate and a fourpenny into the penny plate.
Stamp Collecting as a Pastime|Edward J. Nankivell
Remember that stereo shot we had taken just before we left Mars?
Bedside Manner|William Morrison
As soon as Tom and Astro could tear away from the stereo reporter, they were mobbed by the onlookers who clamored for autographs.
Treachery in Outer Space|Carey Rockwell and Louis Glanzman
He stood at the bar for nearly half an hour, watching the stereo and waiting.
Sabotage in Space|Carey Rockwell
I sat there with a magnifying glass on the roadsign; its stereo image standing up alongside the road in full color and solidity.
Highways in Hiding|George Oliver Smith

British Dictionary definitions for stereo (1 of 2)

stereo

/ (ˈstɛrɪəʊ, ˈstɪər-) /

adjective

short for stereophonic, stereoscopic

noun plural stereos

stereophonic soundto broadcast in stereo

a stereophonic record player, tape recorder, etc

photog

stereoscopic photography
a stereoscopic photograph

printing short for stereotype

Word Origin for stereo

C20: shortened form

British Dictionary definitions for stereo (2 of 2)

stereo-

sometimes before a vowel stere-

combining form

indicating three-dimensional quality or soliditystereoscope

Word Origin for stereo-

from Greek stereos solid

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

Word Origin and History for stereo (1 of 2)

stereo

1823 as a shortening of stereotype; 1876 as a shortening of stereoscope; 1954 (adj.) as a shortening of stereophonic; the noun meaning "stereophonic record or tape player" is recorded from 1964.

Word Origin and History for stereo (1 of 2)

stereo-

word-forming element, before vowels stere-, from comb. form of Greek stereos "solid" (see stereotype).

stereo

noun, plural ster·e·os.

adjective

verb (used with object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of stereo

Definition for stereo (2 of 3)

stereo.

Definition for stereo (3 of 3)

stereo-

Origin of stereo-

Examples from the Web for stereo

British Dictionary definitions for stereo (1 of 2)

stereo

adjective

noun plural stereos

Word Origin for stereo

British Dictionary definitions for stereo (2 of 2)

stereo-

sometimes before a vowel stere-

combining form

Word Origin for stereo-

Word Origin and History for stereo (1 of 2)

stereo

Word Origin and History for stereo (1 of 2)

stereo-

Medicine definitions for stereo

stereo-

pref.