daguerreotype

noun

da·​guerre·​o·​type də-ˈger-ō-ˌtīp 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-,

-rə-,

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtīp,

-ˈger-ē-

: an early photograph produced on a silver or a silver-covered copper plate

also : the process of producing such photographs

daguerreotype transitive verb

daguerreotypist

də-ˈger-ō-ˌtī-pist 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-

-rə-

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtī-

-ˈger-ē-

noun

daguerreotypy

də-ˈger-ō-ˌtī-pē 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-

-rə-

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtī-

-ˈger-ē-

noun

Examples of daguerreotype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The quarter-plate daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of fourth US president James Madison, dates from around 1846. —Torey Akers, CNN, 9 July 2024

The French writer Honoré de Balzac confessed to fearing that each time a daguerreotype was taken of him, a layer of his skin would be peeled off. —Sohini Desai, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2024

The Madison daguerreotype came to light as the sellers, whom Sotheby’s are not identifying, were cleaning out a basement after a relative had died. —Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times, 11 June 2024

The fragile daguerreotypes of the early 1840s launched a period of constant experimentation. —Andrea Kaston Tange, The Conversation, 6 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

French daguerréotype, from L. J. M. Daguerre + French -o- + type

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

daguerreotype

noun

da·​guerre·​o·​type də-ˈger-(ē-)ō-ˌtīp 

: an early photograph produced on a metal plate

Etymology

named for L. J. M. Daguerre 1789–1851 French painter and inventor