camera

noun

cam·​era ˈkam-rə How to pronounce camera (audio)
ˈka-mə-rə
1
a
: a device that consists of a lightproof chamber with an aperture fitted with a lens and a shutter through which the image of an object is projected onto a surface for recording (as on a photosensitive film or an electronic sensor) or for translation into electrical impulses (as for television broadcast)
2
: the treasury department of the papal curia
Phrases
off camera
1
: while not being filmed by a television or movie camera
he's a different person off camera
2
: outside the scope of a television or movie camera
sounds of gunfire taking place off camera
on camera
1
: before a live television camera
go on camera
also : while being filmed by a television or movie camera
looked relaxed on camera
2
: within the scope of a television or movie camera
you can hear a dog but he never appears on camera

Examples of camera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And Caltrans plans to install cameras at more locations along highways and to clean up homeless encampments deemed a risk to public safety. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 At some dog hotels, suites have cameras, and emails from concerned owners arrive throughout the night. Sam Apple, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 By the time the deputy stops running, a woman can be heard screaming as the camera shows the teen lying in the front yard, his body in a baby blue sweatsuit coming to rest. Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 When talking about her fiancé, the camera panned to her co-star Powell, rather than Jonathon Davino. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024 Amazingly, a camera person thought to capture it, and my little napkin note was featured in the History of the Eagles Documentary. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Sydney Sweeney is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but fans are sure to be shocked by her wild new horror movie that pushes her creativity in front of and behind the camera to new extremes. William Earl, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 The suspect had abandoned his chase at this point, but detectives were able to find and arrest him by using a traffic camera on the intersection where the pursuit began and surveillance footage from residents in the neighborhood. Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 The emotional roller coaster that is Jimmy Presnell and Chelsea Blackwell's relationship continued even after the Love Is Blind season 6 cameras stopped filming. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'camera.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, room — more at chamber

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of camera was in 1566

Dictionary Entries Near camera

Cite this Entry

“Camera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camera. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

camera

noun
cam·​era ˈkam-(ə-)rə How to pronounce camera (audio)
1
: a judge's private office
hearings held in camera
2
: a lightproof box fitted with a lens through which the image of an object is projected onto a surface that is sensitive to light for recording (as on film) or for converting into electrical signals (as for a live television broadcast)
Etymology

from Latin camera "room, chamber"; sense 2 from the scientific Latin phrase camera obscura, literally, "dark chamber" — related to chamber

More from Merriam-Webster on camera

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