noun
Uncommon
Bluetooth
BLOO-tooth
Bluetooth (noun) means a short-range wireless technology used to connect devices like phones, headphones, and speakers. Example: “She paired her headphones with her phone using Bluetooth.”
noun
1
A short-range wireless technology used to connect devices like phones, headphones, and speakers.
"She paired her headphones with her phone using Bluetooth."
verb
1
To send or receive data wirelessly between devices using this technology.
"He bluetoothed the photos over to his friend's laptop."
How to use Bluetooth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wireless way for nearby devices to connect and share data.
Common pairings
Bluetooth speaker
turn on Bluetooth
pair via Bluetooth
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Bluetooth.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- Bluetooths
- Past tense
- Bluetoothed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She paired her headphones with her phone using _____.
Etymology
Named after Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson, a 10th-century king who united Danish tribes, since the technology similarly unites different devices.
Class of 900
Bluetooth joined the language around 900.
See the full Class of 900 →
Rhymes for Bluetooth
See all rhymes for Bluetooth →Frequently asked questions
What does “Bluetooth” mean?
The word “Bluetooth” means a short-range wireless technology used to connect devices like phones, headphones, and speakers. In plain terms, a wireless way for nearby devices to connect and share data.
How do you pronounce “Bluetooth”?
“Bluetooth” is pronounced BLOO-tooth (/ˈblu.tuθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Bluetooth” in a sentence?
Here is “Bluetooth” used in a sentence: “She paired her headphones with her phone using Bluetooth.”
What part of speech is “Bluetooth”?
Depending on how it is used, “Bluetooth” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “Bluetooth” come from?
The word “Bluetooth” dates back to around 900 and comes from Danish. Named after Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson, a 10th-century king who united Danish tribes, since the technology similarly unites different devices.
Is “Bluetooth” a common word?
“Bluetooth” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Bluetooth” have?
“Bluetooth” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short-range wireless technology used to connect devices like phones, headphones, and speakers.
What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi?
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology designed to connect nearby devices like phones, headphones, and speakers directly, while Wi-Fi is built for longer-range wireless networking, typically connecting devices to the internet through a router. Bluetooth generally uses less power but covers a much smaller area than Wi-Fi.
Why do headphones and speakers use Bluetooth instead of a cable?
Headphones and speakers use Bluetooth because it allows short-range wireless connection between devices without the need for a physical cable. This makes Bluetooth convenient for pairing phones with headphones, speakers, and similar accessories.
Can Bluetooth be used as a verb?
Yes, Bluetooth can function as a verb meaning to send or receive data wirelessly between devices using this technology, as in "Bluetooth me the photo." This informal usage grew out of the technology's name becoming a common household term.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Bluetooth:
