jukebox
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
A large, coin-operated machine that automatically plays selected music from records, CDs, or digital files.
By metaphorical extension, any system, device, or service that allows on-demand selection and playback from a large collection of audio or video content, or data in general.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word strongly evokes mid-20th-century nostalgia, particularly the 1950s American diner culture. Its extended, metaphorical use (e.g., 'a software jukebox') is modern and less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or use. The word is of American origin and is associated with American culture, but is perfectly standard and understood in British English.
Connotations
US: Strongly nostalgic, iconic of 1950s diners and youth culture. UK: Evokes American cultural imagery but carries the same nostalgic and retro connotations.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in AmE due to cultural origin, but common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
There is a jukebox + [prepositional phrase: in the bar].Someone played [song] + on the jukebox.The jukebox + [verb: blared, played, stopped].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like a broken record/jukebox (variant: someone who repeats themselves incessantly).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could appear in contexts like entertainment venue management or retro-themed marketing.
Academic
Very rare outside of cultural, historical, or musicology studies focusing on 20th-century popular culture.
Everyday
Common when discussing retro decor, music history, or nostalgic settings like pubs and diners.
Technical
In computing, can metaphorically describe software for managing and playing media libraries (e.g., 'media jukebox').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We decided to jukebox our entire vinyl collection onto a digital server.
- The software can jukebox thousands of tracks.
American English
- He jukeboxed his way through the classic rock playlist.
- The app lets you jukebox your favorite albums.
adverb
British English
- The music played jukebox-loud from the corner.
- He selected songs almost jukebox-style, one after another.
American English
- The songs were lined up jukebox-quick for the party.
- She sang along, jukebox-perfect to every word.
adjective
British English
- The pub had a jukebox-style selection of 80s hits.
- It was a very jukebox moment when that song came on.
American English
- They created a jukebox musical based on the band's greatest hits.
- The diner had a real jukebox feel to it.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is an old jukebox in the café.
- You can choose a song on the jukebox.
- We put some coins in the jukebox and played our favourite song.
- The classic jukebox in the diner played 1950s rock and roll.
- The bar's atmosphere was defined by the glowing vintage jukebox in the corner.
- He nostalgically described the ritual of selecting a track from the diner's jukebox.
- The new software acts as a digital jukebox, curating playlists from a vast online library.
- The filmmaker used the jukebox as a potent symbol of post-war American optimism and youth culture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
JUKE (think of 'juke joint', a lively bar) + BOX (a large machine) = a box that plays lively music.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR ENTERTAINMENT / A NOSTALGIA MACHINE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'music box' (музыкальная шкатулка), which refers to a small, wind-up box. 'Jukebox' is specifically a large, commercial machine.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'jutebox' (incorrect). Pronunciation: stressing the second syllable (incorrect, stress is always on the first).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a classic 'jukebox'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically for modern digital systems that offer on-demand selection from a large media library, like 'a media jukebox app'.
It originates from the US. 'Juke' is thought to come from the Gullah word 'juke' or 'jook', meaning disorderly or wicked, associated with 'juke joint' roadhouses. 'Box' refers to the machine itself.
Informally and increasingly, yes. It means to manage or play music from a jukebox-like system, e.g., 'to jukebox a playlist'. This is a modern, derived usage.
A jukebox is a specific type of coin-operated, commercial record player found in public venues. A record player is a general term for any device that plays vinyl records, typically for personal home use.