gutenberg bible: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic, Historical, Cultural
Quick answer
What does “gutenberg bible” mean?
The first major book printed in the West using movable metal type, produced by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, around 1454–1455.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The first major book printed in the West using movable metal type, produced by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, around 1454–1455.
A metonym for the dawn of the age of the printed book in Europe; a highly valuable historical artifact and a milestone in the history of technology, communication, and culture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. The term is identical and used in the same contexts.
Connotations
Carries the same academic and historical prestige in both variants.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British academic discourse due to stronger historical collecting and library traditions, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “gutenberg bible” in a Sentence
[Subject: Institution/Person] + [Verb: owns/houses/displays] + the Gutenberg Bible.The Gutenberg Bible + [Verb: marks/symbolizes/represents] + [Object: a revolution].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gutenberg bible” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The museum hopes to Gutenberg-Bible its collection with a digital facsimile.
adjective
British English
- The Gutenberg-Bible era transformed European thought.
American English
- It was a Gutenberg-Bible-level innovation in its day.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in valuations of rare books or cultural asset management.
Academic
Common in history, literature, library science, and media studies departments.
Everyday
Rare. Used in general knowledge contexts or when discussing significant historical inventions.
Technical
Used in bibliography, typography, and the history of printing as a key technical and historical reference point.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gutenberg bible”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gutenberg bible”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gutenberg bible”
- Misspelling as 'Gutenburg Bible'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a gutenberg bible') instead of a proper noun.
- Confusing it with later printed Bibles.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 180 copies were printed, about 150 on paper and 30 on vellum.
Because most pages have 42 lines of text in two columns, a key identifier for bibliographers.
Complete or partial copies are held in major libraries and museums worldwide, such as the British Library, the Library of Congress, and the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz.
Movable type was invented earlier in East Asia. Gutenberg's innovation was the combination of metal movable type, a suitable ink, and a press adapted from other crafts, creating an efficient system for Europe.
The first major book printed in the West using movable metal type, produced by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, around 1454–1455.
Gutenberg bible is usually academic, historical, cultural in register.
Gutenberg bible: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡuːtənbɜːɡ ˈbaɪbl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡuːtənbɜːrɡ ˈbaɪbl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Gutenberg moment”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GOOD BOOKS get printed' – Gutenberg made good books widely available.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE DAWN OF MASS COMMUNICATION (The Gutenberg Bible is the sunrise of the modern information age).
Practice
Quiz
What is the Gutenberg Bible primarily significant for?