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

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

To download or share files as if using Napster.

"Back in college, everyone was napstering songs off their dorm network."

How to use Napster

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOriginally the name of the pioneering music file-sharing service; now sometimes used generically for illegal file swapping.

Word forms

Napstered past tense, Napsters plural, Napsters singular

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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.