Main Entry:

car·tridge

Pronunciation:

\ˈkär-trij, dialect 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 usu. 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>