noun
phonograph
FOH-nuh-grahf
Phonograph (noun) means an early device for recording and playing back sound using grooved cylinders or discs, a forerunner of the record player. Example: “The museum has a working phonograph from the early 1900s.”
noun
1
An early device for recording and playing back sound using grooved cylinders or discs, a forerunner of the record player.
"The museum has a working phonograph from the early 1900s."
How to use phonograph
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned machine for recording and playing sound, the ancestor of the modern record player.
UK vs US
In American English "phonograph" is the common older term; British English more often used "gramophone" for the same kind of device.
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Word forms
- Plural
- phonographs
- Third person singular
- phonographs
- Past tense
- phonographed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a working _____ from the early 1900s.
Etymology
From Greek phono- ("sound") plus -graph ("something written or recorded").
Synonyms
View more →
record player
gramophone
Related words
Rhymes for phonograph
See all rhymes for phonograph →Frequently asked questions
What does “phonograph” mean?
The word “phonograph” means an early device for recording and playing back sound using grooved cylinders or discs, a forerunner of the record player. In plain terms, an old-fashioned machine for recording and playing sound, the ancestor of the modern record player.
How do you pronounce “phonograph”?
“Phonograph” is pronounced FOH-nuh-grahf (/ˈfoʊnəˌɡɹæf/ in IPA).
How do you use “phonograph” in a sentence?
Here is “phonograph” used in a sentence: “The museum has a working phonograph from the early 1900s.”
What part of speech is “phonograph”?
“Phonograph” is a noun.
Where does the word “phonograph” come from?
The word “phonograph” comes from Greek. From Greek phono- ("sound") plus -graph ("something written or recorded").
