ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hollywood

n. uncountable
A2 Elementary US //ˈhɑɫiˌwʊd// hol·ly·wood

n. the center of the American movie industry. It is a place in Los Angeles, but people also use the name to talk about the famous actors and companies that make movies.

n. a district in Los Angeles, California, synonymous with the American motion picture industry. Often used metonymically to refer to the commercial and cultural output of major U.S. film studios.


SIMPLE

She moved to Hollywood to become a famous actress.

CONTEXTUAL

Many people dream of success in Hollywood, but the competition for even small roles is incredibly high.

COMPLEX

The transition from silent films to 'talkies' fundamentally reshaped Hollywood, establishing the studio system that would dominate global entertainment for decades.

Origin

The name of the neighbourhood in Los Angeles (proper noun sense 1) was coined by real estate developer H. J. Whitley, from holly + wood. By metonymy, it became the name of the industry, and eventually also a name for decadence.

Usage

When referring to the film industry, it is used without an article. When referring to the specific geographic district, it is treated as a proper noun.

Idioms2 entries

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