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

see also:

off camera on camera

Examples of camera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike conventional stereo systems, which mainly calculate horizontal differences between images from parallel cameras, CBS accounts for both horizontal and vertical disparities created when cameras converge on a target. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

Uber also told Mashable that drivers need a front-facing camera and microphone to use the feature. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

During court on Eyssallenne's preliminary hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors shared jarring dash camera video of the crash, which shows the boy speeding through an intersection before colliding with a car and getting thrown into the air. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

And on its website, the company says biometric data, like faces and fingerprints, are not collected by Flock cameras. — Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026

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