ticker tape: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyTechnical/historical, informal in metaphorical use
Quick answer
What does “ticker tape” mean?
A narrow strip of paper on which stock prices or other data were printed by a ticker machine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A narrow strip of paper on which stock prices or other data were printed by a ticker machine.
Figuratively, any continuous stream of information or data, often in a fast-paced or historical context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar, but 'ticker tape parade' is more commonly referenced in American English due to historical events.
Connotations
Both evoke nostalgia for old financial technology; in the US, it strongly connotes celebratory parades in New York.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, especially in historical or financial discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “ticker tape” in a Sentence
on the ticker tapefrom the ticker tapeticker tape of informationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ticker tape” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The device would ticker-tape the latest share prices for brokers.
American English
- They ticker-taped the election results across the screen.
adjective
British English
- The ticker-tape parade in London marked the royal event.
American English
- A ticker-tape display showed the breaking news updates.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in historical financial contexts or metaphorically for real-time market data streams.
Academic
Referenced in studies of financial history, communication technology, or media evolution.
Everyday
Rarely used; mostly in idiomatic expressions like 'ticker tape parade' for celebrations.
Technical
Describes obsolete printing devices or early data transmission methods in engineering contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ticker tape”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ticker tape”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ticker tape”
- Using 'ticker tape' to refer to modern digital tickers; confusing it with 'ticker' alone as in heart rate monitors.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was used to print stock prices and other financial data on paper strips in stock exchanges.
No, it is largely obsolete, replaced by digital displays, but the term persists in idioms and metaphorical references.
It refers to a celebratory parade where ticker tape or confetti is thrown from buildings, traditionally in New York City.
It is pronounced as /ˈtɪkər teɪp/, with a rhotic 'r' sound in 'ticker'.
A narrow strip of paper on which stock prices or other data were printed by a ticker machine.
Ticker tape is usually technical/historical, informal in metaphorical use in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ticker tape parade”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a clock ticking and paper tape, like old machines that printed stock prices with a ticking sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
Information as a physical, continuous flow, akin to a river or stream.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for 'ticker tape' in modern usage?