celluloid

noun

cel·​lu·​loid ˈsel-yə-ˌlȯid 

1

: a tough flammable thermoplastic composed essentially of cellulose nitrate and camphor

2

: a motion-picture film

a work … making its third appearance on celluloid

—John McCarten

celluloid adjective

Examples of celluloid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yes, the musical rests on the identity crisis of a smudge of inked celluloid. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

By then, digital technologies were supplanting not just the imbibition process but celluloid. —Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025

Some of these achingly beautiful images look like paintings come to life briefly on celluloid. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025

Silent films tried it with tinting (basically dumping a negative into a tub of dye) and coloring (frame by frame hand stenciling), but the aspiration was to capture the image in the camera on the celluloid film stock. —Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from Celluloid, a trademark

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for celluloid

• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid
• amyloid
• aneroid
• anthropoid
• arachnoid
• asteroid
• benzenoid
• carcinoid
• coronoid
• humanoid

Kids Definition

celluloid

noun

cel·​lu·​loid ˈsel-(y)ə-ˌlȯid 

1

: a tough flammable plastic

2

: a motion-picture film

watch a western on celluloid