noun
Uncommon
dolly
DO-lee
Dolly (noun) means a wheeled platform or cart used to move heavy objects, or to move a camera smoothly during filming. Example: “The crew pushed the camera dolly along the track for the tracking shot.”
noun
1
A wheeled platform or cart used to move heavy objects, or to move a camera smoothly during filming.
"The crew pushed the camera dolly along the track for the tracking shot."
verb
1
To move a camera smoothly toward or away from a subject using a dolly.
"The director asked the operator to dolly in slowly on the actor's face."
How to use dolly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small wheeled cart, especially one used to move heavy items or a film camera.
Common pairings
camera dolly
dolly in
a moving dolly
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Word forms
- Plural
- dollies
- Third person singular
- dollies
- Past tense
- dollied
- Comparative
- more dolly
- Superlative
- most dolly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The crew pushed the camera _____ along the track for the tracking shot.
Etymology
From "doll," derived from the name Dorothy, later extended to various small movable devices.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for dolly
See all rhymes for dolly →Frequently asked questions
What does “dolly” mean?
The word “dolly” means a wheeled platform or cart used to move heavy objects, or to move a camera smoothly during filming. In plain terms, a small wheeled cart, especially one used to move heavy items or a film camera.
How do you pronounce “dolly”?
“Dolly” is pronounced DO-lee (/ˈdɑli/ in IPA).
How do you use “dolly” in a sentence?
Here is “dolly” used in a sentence: “The crew pushed the camera dolly along the track for the tracking shot.”
What part of speech is “dolly”?
Depending on how it is used, “dolly” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “dolly” a common word?
“Dolly” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dolly” have?
“Dolly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wheeled platform or cart used to move heavy objects, or to move a camera smoothly during filming.
What is the difference between a "dolly" and a "trolley"?
A dolly is a small wheeled platform used to move heavy objects short distances or to move a camera smoothly, while "trolley" is a more general British term for a wheeled cart, such as a shopping trolley. In filmmaking specifically, "dolly" refers to the wheeled rig that carries the camera.
What does it mean to "dolly in" or "dolly out" in filmmaking?
To "dolly in" means moving the camera closer to the subject on a wheeled dolly, while to "dolly out" means moving it away, both producing a smooth physical change in framing rather than a zoom.
What is the difference between a camera dolly and a zoom?
A dolly physically moves the camera closer to or farther from the subject, changing perspective, whereas a zoom changes the focal length of the lens without moving the camera, which alters framing but not perspective.
