English Reference

Word

hologram

Phoneticsholo·gram

US/ˈhɑɫəˌɡɹæm/

UK/hˈɒləɡɹˌæm/

Definition

n. a special kind of 3D image made with light. It looks like a solid object that you can see from different sides, even though it is just a picture.

n. a three-dimensional image formed by the interference of light beams from a laser or other coherent light source. Often used to describe digital projections that simulate physical presence.

Examples

“The credit card has a small hologram to prevent people from making fakes.”

“During the concert, a hologram of the late singer appeared on stage to perform with the live band.”

“Advanced medical imaging now allows surgeons to examine a hologram of a patient's heart before they begin a complex operation.”

Examples

simple

“The credit card has a small hologram to prevent people from making fakes.”

contextual

“During the concert, a hologram of the late singer appeared on stage to perform with the live band.”

complex

“Advanced medical imaging now allows surgeons to examine a hologram of a patient's heart before they begin a complex operation.”

Etymology

From holo- + -gram, from Ancient Greek ὅλος (hólos, “whole”) + γρᾰ́μμᾰ (grắmmă, “that which is written or drawn”), coined by Hungarian-born British scientist Dennis Gabor in 1948, the Nobel prize winner in physics in 1971 for his work in holography.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference