Word
videotape
Phoneticsvideo·tape
US/ˈvɪdioʊˈteɪp/
UK/vˈɪdiːəʊtˌeɪp/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a long strip of magnetic plastic used to record and play back movies or home videos. You might remember these as the large black cassettes used before DVDs and streaming became popular.
n. a magnetic recording medium in the form of a plastic strip, used for storing video and audio signals. While largely replaced by digital formats, it remains a significant historical medium for television production and home entertainment.
Examples
“I found an old videotape of my third birthday party.”
“The detective spent hours reviewing the grainy footage on the videotape to identify the suspect's vehicle.”
“Archivists are working quickly to digitize historical records stored on magnetic videotape before the physical material degrades and the playback hardware becomes entirely obsolete.”
Examples
simple
“I found an old videotape of my third birthday party.”
contextual
“The detective spent hours reviewing the grainy footage on the videotape to identify the suspect's vehicle.”
complex
“Archivists are working quickly to digitize historical records stored on magnetic videotape before the physical material degrades and the playback hardware becomes entirely obsolete.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the material itself; countable when referring to individual cassettes.
Etymology
From video + tape, a trademark of media company Ampex.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 2
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/videotape