video tape
B1/B2Standard, with a strong association to the late 20th century. Can be slightly dated/technical in everyday contexts, as the technology is largely obsolete.
Definition
Meaning
A physical magnetic tape on which visual images and sound are recorded for later playback on a video cassette recorder (VCR).
The act or process of recording something onto such a tape; the resulting recording itself; often used as a metonym for older, obsolete recording technology or physical media.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun (a video tape, three video tapes). Can function as a verb (to video tape something). The concept is strongly associated with a specific historical period of home entertainment and media archiving.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English often uses 'videotape' as a solid compound or hyphenated ('video-tape'), while American English strongly prefers the solid compound 'videotape'. Verb usage is less common in both now.
Connotations
Identical connotations of dated technology. No significant difference in meaning.
Frequency
Frequency has declined sharply in both varieties since the 2000s. The term is now most common in historical/technical discussions or when referring to legacy media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to video tape [OBJECT]to transfer something from video tapeto record something on/to video tapeto watch something on video tapeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “**Be on a video tape** (to be recorded on one); **Gather dust like a video tape** (to become obsolete and unused).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in media archiving or conversion services ('We need to digitize our old video tape archives').
Academic
Used in media studies, history of technology, or archival science to discuss pre-digital media.
Everyday
Used when discussing old home recordings, movies from the 80s/90s, or obsolete technology ('My wedding is on video tape somewhere').
Technical
Precise term in audiovisual engineering, specifying the physical magnetic tape medium as opposed to digital formats.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We should video tape the children's play for the grandparents.
- The ceremony was video taped for archival purposes.
American English
- He videotaped the entire football game.
- I need to videotape my testimony for the court.
adverb
British English
- (Rare) It was recorded video-tape, not film.
American English
- (Rare) The show was produced videotape for cost reasons.
adjective
British English
- We found a box of video-tape recordings in the attic.
- The video tape era lasted from the 1970s to the 1990s.
American English
- She works in videotape preservation.
- The manual is for a videotape editing system.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a video tape of my favourite cartoon.
- Put the video tape in the machine.
- We watched an old film on video tape last night.
- Do you know how to record a TV programme onto a video tape?
- Before streaming, people would rent video tapes from a shop.
- The historical footage survived only on a decaying video tape.
- The artist's early performances are documented solely on low-quality video tape, imbuing them with a deliberate sense of ephemerality.
- The legal dispute hinged on whether the unauthorised videotaping of the meeting constituted a breach of confidentiality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 1980s: big TV, a chunky black VCR, and a **VIDEO TAPE** you had to rewind. 'Video' you see, 'Tape' you thread (metaphorically).
Conceptual Metaphor
PHYSICAL OBJECT FOR RECORDED CONTENT (The container for the experience). PAST FOR OBSOLESCENCE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing 'видео лента' – while understood, the standard term is 'видеокассета'. 'Видеопленка' refers to the raw magnetic tape, not the consumer cassette.
- The verb 'to video tape' translates as 'записывать на видеокассету' or 'снимать на видео' (more modern).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'video tape' to refer to a DVD or digital file. *'I saved the video on a video tape' (if referring to a computer file).*
- Misspelling as 'videotape' (standard) vs. 'video tape' (less common).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'video tape' MOST likely used today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is now a dated term. It's primarily used when referring to old technology, historical media, or in specific technical/archival contexts. Words like 'video', 'recording', or 'file' are more common for modern uses.
'Video tape' is the general term for magnetic tape used for recording video. 'VHS' (Video Home System) is a specific, popular *format* of video tape and cassette. All VHS cassettes are video tapes, but not all video tapes are VHS (e.g., Betamax, V2000).
Yes, it can (e.g., 'to video tape a concert'), but this usage is also dated. Modern equivalents are 'to film', 'to record', or simply 'to video'.
Modern dictionaries list 'videotape' (one word) as the standard spelling for both noun and verb, especially in American English. 'Video tape' (two words) is an older variant. 'Video-tape' (hyphenated) is less common.