kinetoscope

noun ki·net·o·scope \ kə-ˈne-tə-ˌskōp , kī- \

Updated on: 27 Mar 2018

Definition of kinetoscope

: a device for viewing through a magnifying lens a sequence of pictures on an endless band of film moved continuously over a light source and a rapidly rotating shutter that creates an illusion of motion

Recent Examples of kinetoscope from the Web

But ever since Edison and his kinetoscope, there have been women like Irwin and Daniels, who have emerged as entrepreneurs in an industry made for men and run by men. Gloria Leonard started out as a bond trader on Wall Street in the 1960s.

— petula dvorak, Washington Post, "Sex and power: Stormy Daniels and the female pioneers of the porn industry," 10 Mar. 2018
Visual culture was on the rise—on top of stereoscopes, Victorians were excitedly trading photographic calling cards, watching short films, and spinning kinetoscopes of looping animations that were, essentially, like today’s animated GIFs.

— clive thompson, Smithsonian, "Stereographs Were the Original Virtual Reality," 30 Sep. 2017
Contemporary videogame technology is the equivalent of the kinetoscope.

— chris kohler, WIRED, "Why David Jaffe Is Wrong On The ‘One-Console’ Future," 11 Jan. 2008

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kinetoscope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.