Main Entry: car·tridge

Pronunciation: \ˈkär-trij, dial ˈka-trij\

Function: noun

Etymology: alteration of earlier cartage, modification of Middle French cartouche

Date: 1626

: a case or container that holds a substance, device, or material which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that usually can be easily changed: as a : a tube (as of metal) containing a complete charge for a firearm and usually an initiating device (as a primer) b : a case containing an explosive charge for blasting c : an often cylindrical container for insertion into a larger mechanism or apparatus d : cassette 2 e : a small case that contains a phonograph needle and transducer and is attached to a tonearm f : a removable case containing a magnetic tape or one or more disks and used as a computer storage medium g : a case for holding printed circuit chips containing a computer program <a video-game cartridge>