album
AL-buhm
Album (noun) means a collection of music released together as one unit, usually enough to fill a full-length record or its digital equivalent. Example: “I bought the new album on the day it came out and played it all weekend.”
noun
1
A collection of music released together as one unit, usually enough to fill a full-length record or its digital equivalent.
"I bought the new album on the day it came out and played it all weekend."
"The band spent two years writing their second album."
"She listened to the album straight through on the train home."
2
A book with blank pages for mounting photographs, stamps, or other keepsakes.
"We spent a rainy evening sticking old holiday pictures into a new album."
"He keeps his collection of rare stamps in a special album with clear pages."
"His grandmother kept every family photo in a leather-bound album."
How to use album
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA collection of songs sold or released as one thing, or a book for keeping photos and mementos.
Common pairings
debut album
release an album
photo album
album cover
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Word forms
- Plural
- albums, alba
Fill the gap
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I bought the new _____ on the day it came out and played it all weekend.
Etymology
From Latin album, "a blank white tablet" — Roman officials used whitened boards like this to post public notices, from albus, "white."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “album” mean?
The word “album” means a collection of music released together as one unit, usually enough to fill a full-length record or its digital equivalent. In plain terms, a collection of songs sold or released as one thing, or a book for keeping photos and mementos.
How do you pronounce “album”?
“Album” is pronounced AL-buhm (/ˈælbəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “album” in a sentence?
Here is “album” used in a sentence: “The band spent two years writing their second album.”
What part of speech is “album”?
“Album” is a noun.
Where does the word “album” come from?
The word “album” comes from Latin. From Latin album, "a blank white tablet" — Roman officials used whitened boards like this to post public notices, from albus, "white.".
Is “album” a common word?
“Album” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “album” have?
“Album” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a collection of music released together as one unit, usually enough to fill a full-length record or its digital equivalent.
What is the difference between an album and a single?
A single is one song, sometimes two or three, released on its own, usually to promote or lead into a larger project. An album is a full collection, typically eight to fifteen tracks, meant to be experienced as one body of work. Singles are often pulled from the album they belong to.
What is the difference between an album and an EP?
An EP, or extended play, sits between a single and an album, usually carrying four to six songs. An album is longer and more complete, often running forty minutes or more. The line is loosely defined, but albums are treated as an artist's major statement, while EPs are shorter releases.
What are the types of albums?
Common types include the studio album, recorded in a studio; the live album, captured at a concert; the compilation or greatest hits, gathering earlier tracks; and the concept album, built around a single theme or story. A debut album marks an artist's first full release.
How many songs are usually on an album?
Most albums hold roughly ten to fifteen songs, though there is no fixed rule. The traditional length grew from the capacity of vinyl records and later CDs. Streaming has loosened the format, so some modern albums run shorter, while others stretch well past twenty tracks.
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