linotype: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2technical / historical
Quick answer
What does “linotype” mean?
A typesetting machine that casts an entire line of text as a single piece of metal, called a 'slug'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A typesetting machine that casts an entire line of text as a single piece of metal, called a 'slug'.
The single slugs of type produced by such a machine; by extension, a trademark for the machine itself (Linotype).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is equally archaic and technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Historical, industrial, obsolete technology. Evokes the era of 'hot metal' typesetting and traditional newspaper publishing.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary usage. Almost exclusively found in historical texts, printing museums, and discussions of technological history.
Grammar
How to Use “linotype” in a Sentence
The [noun] was set using linotype.They operated the linotype [adverb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “linotype” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The compositor would linotype the article for the morning edition.
American English
- Printers linotyped the classifieds section overnight.
adverb
British English
- [Not used adverbially]
American English
- [Not used adverbially]
adjective
British English
- The linotype department was noisy and hot.
American English
- He was a skilled linotype operator.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical reference in publishing or printing company histories.
Academic
Used in histories of technology, media studies, and printing history.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used by a printing hobbyist or historian.
Technical
Precise term for a specific obsolete typesetting technology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “linotype”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “linotype”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “linotype”
- Using 'linotype' to refer to modern digital typesetting.
- Misspelling as 'linotipe' or 'linotyp'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to linotype the text') is archaic and non-standard today.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often capitalized when referring to the trademarked machine (Linotype), but frequently lowercased ('linotype') as a generic term for the technology.
No, it is an obsolete technology. It was superseded by phototypesetting in the 1970s and then by digital typesetting.
Speed and efficiency. It allowed one operator to set text much faster than manually assembling individual letters (pieces of type).
Historically, yes ('to linotype' meant to set type using such a machine), but this usage is now archaic.
A typesetting machine that casts an entire line of text as a single piece of metal, called a 'slug'.
Linotype is usually technical / historical in register.
Linotype: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪnə(ʊ)taɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlaɪnoʊˌtaɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this highly technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LINO + TYPE: Think of a 'line of type' being cast as one solid piece.
Conceptual Metaphor
MACHINE AS LABOR-SAVER (the linotype replaced manual typesetting).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'linotype slug'?