Main Entry:

cam·era

Pronunciation:

\ˈkam-rə, ˈka-mər-ə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Late Latin, room — more at chamber

Date:

1712

1: the treasury department of the papal curia2 a: camera obscura b: 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 film) or for translation into electrical impulses (as for television broadcast)

— 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>