cigarette holder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, dated, or specific to historical/vintage contexts.
Quick answer
What does “cigarette holder” mean?
A long, slender tube designed to hold a cigarette for smoking, typically to prevent tobacco from entering the mouth and to keep fingers cool and unstained.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, slender tube designed to hold a cigarette for smoking, typically to prevent tobacco from entering the mouth and to keep fingers cool and unstained.
A functional and sometimes decorative accessory, historically fashionable in the early to mid-20th century, and now often associated with vintage or formal style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Spelling of 'cigarette' (single 't') is more common in American English, while British English often retains 'cigarette' (double 't'), but both are understood globally.
Connotations
Equally dated in both varieties, though perhaps more strongly associated with British aristocratic or inter-war fashion in British contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern usage in both varieties. May appear more often in period dramas, historical texts, or descriptions of vintage items.
Grammar
How to Use “cigarette holder” in a Sentence
[Subject] + inserted the cigarette + into the cigarette holder.[Subject] + smoked + using a long cigarette holder.The cigarette holder + was made of + [material].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cigarette holder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She elegantly cigarette-holder'd her way through the party (informal, non-standard).
- He preferred to cigarette-hold his smoke (rare/non-standard).
American English
- (No standard verb forms in use)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb forms in use)
American English
- (No standard adverb forms in use)
adjective
British English
- She had a cigarette-holder sophistication (hyphenated compound adjective).
- The cigarette-holder look was popular (hyphenated).
American English
- The cigarette-holder craze of the 1920s (hyphenated).
- A cigarette-holder moment (hyphenated).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could appear in the context of luxury goods, antiques, or film/theatre props.
Academic
Rare. May appear in historical, sociological, or design studies on 20th-century material culture.
Everyday
Virtually unused in contemporary everyday speech. Would be understood but considered archaic.
Technical
Specific term in prop-making, costume design, or antique collection.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cigarette holder”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cigarette holder”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cigarette holder”
- Misspelling as 'cigaret holder' (American) or 'cigar holder' (different object for cigars).
- Using in a modern context without implying a specific vintage or formal setting.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A cigarette case is a container for storing multiple cigarettes. A cigarette holder is a tube used while smoking a single cigarette.
They are very rare in everyday use. They are primarily used for stylistic effect in certain formal or vintage contexts, or by collectors.
Historically, to keep the smoker's fingers cool, prevent tobacco flakes from entering the mouth, and reduce staining on fingers. It also served as a fashion accessory.
While it can slightly cool the smoke, traditional holders are not designed as effective filters. Some modern variants may include a filter tip, but this is not their primary historical function.
A long, slender tube designed to hold a cigarette for smoking, typically to prevent tobacco from entering the mouth and to keep fingers cool and unstained.
Cigarette holder is usually formal, dated, or specific to historical/vintage contexts. in register.
Cigarette holder: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪɡ.əˈret ˈhəʊl.dər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪɡ.əˈret ˈhoʊl.dɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a very formal HOLDER for a CIGARETTE, like a tiny throne for a king, keeping the royal fingers clean. CIGARETTE + HOLDER = holds a cigarette.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FILTER (for social graces/dirt), AN EXTENSION (of the self/sophistication).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter a 'cigarette holder' today?