recorder

The word “recorder” means a simple woodwind instrument played by blowing into a mouthpiece, common in school music classes. In plain terms, either the simple flute-like instrument, or any device/person that keeps a record of something.

“Recorder” is pronounced ree-KAW-duh (/ɹiˈkɔɹ.dəɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “recorder” used in a sentence: “Every child in the class learned to play the recorder.”

“Recorder” is a noun.

The word “recorder” comes from Middle English. From Middle English recorder, related to record in its old sense of "to practise a tune.".

“Recorder” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Recorder” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a simple woodwind instrument played by blowing into a mouthpiece, common in school music classes.

A recorder is a simple woodwind instrument played by blowing directly into a mouthpiece, commonly used to teach music in schools, while a flute is played by blowing across a hole at the side and typically requires more advanced technique. Recorders are usually made in one piece with finger holes, whereas modern flutes have a complex key mechanism.

Recorder can refer to the woodwind instrument, but it is also used generally for any device that records information, sound, or video, such as a tape recorder or voice recorder. Context usually makes clear which sense is meant, since the musical instrument and the recording device are unrelated uses of the same word.

Yes, recorder can describe a person who records information, such as a note-taker at a meeting, in addition to referring to a device or instrument. This sense is less common in everyday speech but still appears in formal or administrative contexts.