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Definition of gramophone

gramophone

/ˈɡræm.ə.foʊn/
gram · o · phone
Plural:gramophones
•
Adjective:gramophonic
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gramophone Lexical Profile

gramophone Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An early analog sound-reproducing machine that played recorded audio from a flat, revolving disc, typically featuring a large horn to amplify the sound.

Example

"The antique gramophone crackled to life, filling the parlor with the tinny, nostalgic sound of a 1920s jazz band."

2

British A record player (chiefly used in older British English).

Example

"She carefully placed the needle on the gramophone to listen to her newly acquired vinyl record."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gramophone

Word Nuance & Usage

Historically, a 'gramophone' specifically played flat discs while a 'phonograph' played wax cylinders, though the terms are frequently used interchangeably today to refer to any vintage record player.

• Nearby Words

grammar
grammatical
grammatically
gramophone
gramp
grampians
gramps

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1887 as a trademark by German-American inventor Emile Berliner. He formed the word by reversing the elements of 'phonogram', utilizing the Greek 'gramma' (letter/record) and 'phōnē' (sound).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gramophone. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gramophone
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