stereo

¹ American  

[ster-ee-oh, steer-] / ˈstɛr iˌoʊ, ˈstɪər- /

noun

plural

stereos

1. stereoscopic photography.

2. a stereoscopic photograph.

3. stereophonic sound reproduction.

4. a system or the equipment for reproducing stereophonic sound.

5. Printing. stereotype.

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adjective

1. pertaining to stereophonic sound, stereoscopic photography, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. Printing. stereotype.

stereo- ² American  

especially before a vowel, stere-.

1. 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.

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stereo. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. stereotype.

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stereo ¹ British  

/ ˈstɪər-, ˈstɛrɪəʊ /

adjective

1. short for stereophonic stereoscopic

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noun

1. stereophonic sound

   to broadcast in stereo

2. a stereophonic record player, tape recorder, etc

3. photog

   1. stereoscopic photography

   2. a stereoscopic photograph

4. printing short for stereotype

stereo- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating three-dimensional quality or solidity

   stereoscope

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Etymology

Origin of stereo¹

First recorded in 1815–25; by shortening

Origin of stereo-²

From the Greek word stereós

Example Sentences

"We only had stereo speakers, but the house shook because our friends were dancing so hard," says Pierson.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

"It gives us what you might call a stereo perspective -- two different vantage points simultaneously."

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Rayvone Douthard, 51, picked up food in a white Nissan truck with his windows down and stereo blaring a cover by the band Tierra of the 1967 song “Together.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2025

We dubbed our car the Brucemobile and never played anything else on the car stereo for years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

The stereo is blasting Los Bukis, and screaming children are running in and out of the house.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Related Words

• audio system
• radio
• sound system