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noun B1 Intermediate Common

recording

rih-KAW-dihng

Recording (noun) means something (sound, video, etc.) that has been captured and stored. Example: “She listened to a recording of her grandmother's voice.”

noun
1
Something (sound, video, etc.) that has been captured and stored.
"She listened to a recording of her grandmother's voice."
"The band released a live recording of the show."
2
The act of capturing sound, video, or data for storage.
"Recording starts as soon as you press this button."

How to Use Recording

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the act of capturing something, or the captured result itself.

Common pairings
live recording sound recording start recording

Word Forms

recordings plural

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Test yourself on “recording” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She listened to a _____ of her grandmother's voice.

Etymology

Formed from record plus the suffix -ing.

Related Words

Rhymes for recording

See all rhymes for recording →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “recording” mean?

The word “recording” means something (sound, video, etc.) that has been captured and stored. In plain terms, either the act of capturing something, or the captured result itself.

How do you pronounce “recording”?

“Recording” is pronounced rih-KAW-dihng (/ɹɪˈkɔː(ɹ)dɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “recording” in a sentence?

Here is “recording” used in a sentence: “She listened to a recording of her grandmother's voice.”

What part of speech is “recording”?

“Recording” is a noun.

Is “recording” a common word?

“Recording” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “recording” have?

“Recording” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something (sound, video, etc.) that has been captured and stored.

What is the difference between a recording and a live performance?

A recording is sound or video that has been captured and stored so it can be replayed later, exactly the same way each time. A live performance happens in real time, in front of an audience, and is never quite identical twice. A recording preserves a moment; live is that moment.

What are the main types of recording?

Recordings are usually grouped by what they capture and how. Audio recordings store sound, while video recordings store moving images and sound together. They can also be analogue, stored physically on tape or vinyl, or digital, stored as files on computers, phones, and streaming servers.

What is the difference between recording and streaming?

A recording is captured and stored as a file you can keep and replay whenever you like. Streaming delivers audio or video over the internet in real time, playing it as it arrives without permanently saving a copy. A recording lives on your device; a stream usually passes through it.

What is an example of a recording?

A song saved on your phone, a voicemail message, a filmed wedding, or a podcast episode are all recordings — each captures sound or images and stores them for later playback. Anything you can pause, rewind, and replay exactly as before is, in this sense, a recording.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial