camera

noun

cam·​era ˈkam-rə 

ˈka-mə-rə

1

a

: a device that consists of a lightproof chamber with an aperture fitted with a lens and a shutter through which the image of an object is projected onto a surface for recording (as on a photosensitive film or an electronic sensor) or for translation into electrical impulses (as for television broadcast)

b

: camera obscura

2

: the treasury department of the papal curia

Phrases

off camera

1

: while not being filmed by a television or movie camera

he's a different person off camera

2

: outside the scope of a television or movie camera

sounds of gunfire taking place off camera

on camera

1

: before a live television camera

go on camera

also : while being filmed by a television or movie camera

looked relaxed on camera

2

: within the scope of a television or movie camera

you can hear a dog but he never appears on camera

Examples of camera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Patel then went back to the set and immediately started trading blows for the camera once again, liability be damned. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024

Don’t look at the sun through any unfiltered optical devices — camera lenses, telescopes, binoculars — while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer, according to NASA. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

Considering the catastrophic events of the original Omen conclude with Damien smiling fiendishly — into the camera! —Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024

The selfie camera on the front captures 13MP photos at f/2.2. —PCMAG, 6 Apr. 2024

Then, in 2010, Craig Packer from the University of Minnesota launched a bold project to establish 200 camera traps in central Serengeti. —T. Michael Anderson, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024

Honda recommends keeping the basic settings on the phone and pointing the camera toward the sun and moon during totality. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024

The March 25 TikTok that’s garnered more than 7.8 million views as of April 5 shows Clever and her roommate burying Cheeto’s third baby before the camera pans over and shows Cheeto staring out the screen door. —Paloma Chavez, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

Then, Allen threw up a couple of peace signs for the camera while Steinfeld smiled widely. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, room — more at chamber

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing camera

• body camera
• box camera
• camera lucida
• camera obscura
• camera person
• camera work
• candid camera
• catch (something) on camera
• dashboard camera
• digital camera
• doorbell camera
• gamma camera
• in camera
• off camera
• on camera
• Schmidt camera
• security camera
• streak camera
• video camera

Kids Definition

camera

noun

cam·​era ˈkam-(ə-)rə 

1

: a judge's private office

hearings held in camera

2

: a lightproof box fitted with a lens through which the image of an object is projected onto a surface that is sensitive to light for recording (as on film) or for converting into electrical signals (as for a live television broadcast)

Etymology

from Latin camera "room, chamber"; sense 2 from the scientific Latin phrase camera obscura, literally, "dark chamber" — related to chamber