noun
Napster
Napster (noun) means a website or service that lets people share files, especially music, for free. Example: “By the early 2000s, several Napster-style sites had sprung up.”
noun
1
A website or service that lets people share files, especially music, for free.
"By the early 2000s, several Napster-style sites had sprung up."
verb
1
To download or share files as if using Napster.
"I've got the first four albums on vinyl. Nothing on CD, other than a few "napstered" songs."
— Greg Goss, The grand parade of lifeless packaging (2006)
"Back in college, everyone was napstering songs off their dorm network."
How to use Napster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally the name of the pioneering music file-sharing service; now sometimes used generically for illegal file swapping.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Napsters
- Third person singular
- Napsters
- Past tense
- Napstered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
By the early 2000s, several _____-style sites had sprung up.
Etymology
Named after the file-sharing service Napster, itself named after founder Shawn Fanning's nickname, which referred to his curly ("nappy") hair.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Napster” mean?
The word “Napster” means a website or service that lets people share files, especially music, for free. In plain terms, originally the name of the pioneering music file-sharing service; now sometimes used generically for illegal file swapping.
How do you use “Napster” in a sentence?
Here is “Napster” used in a sentence: “By the early 2000s, several Napster-style sites had sprung up.”
What part of speech is “Napster”?
Depending on how it is used, “Napster” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “Napster” have?
“Napster” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a website or service that lets people share files, especially music, for free.
