gramophone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2historical, formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “gramophone” mean?
A device for playing sound recordings, historically using a needle on a rotating disc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device for playing sound recordings, historically using a needle on a rotating disc.
A historical or antique device for playing vinyl records; a term often used to evoke a bygone era of music playback, sometimes used poetically for any record player.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'gramophone' is a standard, though dated, term. In American English, 'phonograph' or 'record player' is more common, with 'gramophone' feeling particularly British or antique.
Connotations
In UK English, it has a neutral-to-nostalgic historical connotation. In US English, it often sounds distinctly British or like a technical term from a specific era.
Frequency
The term is rare in modern active use in both varieties, but it appears more frequently in British historical texts and brand names (e.g., HMV - His Master's Voice, featuring a gramophone).
Grammar
How to Use “gramophone” in a Sentence
play (something) on the gramophonelisten to the gramophonewind up the gramophoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gramophone” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The gramophone era ended with the rise of the cassette.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in the context of antique dealers, auction houses, or specialist restoration services.
Academic
Used in historical, cultural, or musicological studies discussing early sound reproduction technology.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used by older generations or when referring specifically to an antique device.
Technical
Used in historical descriptions of audio technology. Not a term for modern audio engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gramophone”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gramophone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gramophone”
- Using 'gramophone' to refer to a modern CD player or Bluetooth speaker.
- Misspelling as 'grammophone' or 'gramafone'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In broad historical terms, yes. However, 'gramophone' typically refers specifically to early, often acoustic (non-electric) models from the late 19th to early-mid 20th century, while 'record player' or 'turntable' is used for later electric models and modern devices.
You can buy modern turntables designed to play vinyl records, which are the direct descendants of the gramophone. True 'gramophones' are antiques, but some companies sell vintage-style reproduction units with modern components.
It refers to a gramophone powered by a clockwork spring mechanism, which you tighten (wind up) with a crank. This was common before widespread household electricity.
The technology evolved. The term was superseded by 'phonograph', 'record player', 'turntable', and then by terms for newer technologies like 'cassette deck', 'CD player', and now 'streaming'. 'Gramophone' remains fixed in its historical period.
A device for playing sound recordings, historically using a needle on a rotating disc.
Gramophone is usually historical, formal, literary in register.
Gramophone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡræməfəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡræməˌfoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “His Master's Voice”
- “like a broken gramophone record (meaning repetitive)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine GRAMpa on the phONE, listening to his old GRAMOPHONE.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GRAMOPHONE is a CONTAINER FOR THE PAST / A TIME MACHINE (it brings past recordings to life).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a traditional gramophone?