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

Phrases

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

Examples of camera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Callum, 4, held onto a snack and looked away from the camera, while his older sister smiled and rested her head on Dewan's shoulder. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024

More:New quality study shows Detroit Three rank high in initial quality Intelligent driver and occupant monitoring Supplier Magna built a high-resolution infrared camera into the vehicle’s rearview mirror. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 13 July 2024

The perpetrator may have been a raccoon or rat, though a wildlife camera never caught a culprit. —Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 13 July 2024

Exaggeration doesn’t bother her; nor does casting telegenic, cooperative actors to stand in for real NASA officials who are either too busy or too camera shy to take part in TV interviews. —Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 July 2024

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