noun

celluloid

SEHL-yuh-loyd

noun

An early type of flexible plastic once used to make photographic and movie film.

"The archive holds reels of fragile old celluloid film."

Cinema or film as an art form (used figuratively).

"The novel was eventually brought to celluloid decades later."

How to Use Celluloid

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe old plastic material movie film used to be made of — often used to mean "the movies" in general.

Common pairings

celluloid film the celluloid era immortalized on celluloid

celluloids plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The archive holds reels of fragile old _____ film.

Originally a trademark of the Celluloid Manufacturing Company; formed from cellulose plus "-oid," meaning "resembling."

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