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 curia
2 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>