camera
camera
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "camera" is /ˈkæmərə/.
cam /kæm/:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop (as in "cat")
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel (as in "trap")
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal (as in "mat")
e /ə/:
/ə/ - schwa, a mid-central vowel (as in the "a" in "sofa")
ra /rə/:
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant (as in "rat")
/ə/ - schwa, a mid-central vowel (as in the "a" in "sofa")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: camera
Plural Noun: cameras
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A device used for capturing still photographs or recording moving images, typically consisting of a light-tight box with a lens for focusing an image onto a light-sensitive surface (such as film or a digital sensor) and a mechanism for controlling the exposure time.
Synonyms: photographic device, picture-taker, imaging device, digital camera, film camera, camcorder (for video)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a noun representing a device)
Definition 2: A television or video recording apparatus used for broadcasting or surveillance.
Synonyms: CCTV, video camera, surveillance camera, TV camera
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a noun representing a device)
Definition 3: (Informal, often used in plural "cameras") The act of being filmed or photographed, especially in a public or professional context.
Example: "The celebrity was uncomfortable in front of the cameras."
Synonyms: spotlight, limelight, public eye, scrutiny
Antonyms: privacy, anonymity, obscurity, hiddenness
Examples of Use
Books:
"He adjusted the aperture on his vintage Leica, a camera he'd inherited from his grandfather, before snapping a photo of the misty highlands." (From The Photography Enthusiast's Guide)
"The detective meticulously reviewed the security camera footage, searching for any clue that might lead him closer to the suspect." (From Shadows of the City)
Newspapers:
"Police are appealing for witnesses after a shoplifter was caught on a surveillance camera attempting to steal high-value electronics." ( The Daily Chronicle)
"The photographer, armed with a new mirrorless camera, captured stunning images of the aurora borealis." (The Northern Lights Gazette)
Online Publications:
"GoPro has unveiled its latest action camera, promising improved stabilization and 8K video recording capabilities." (TechRadar.com)
"Many smartphones now boast advanced multi-lens camera systems, allowing users to take professional-quality photos without a dedicated DSLR." (CNET.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Ready on set! Sound, camera, action!" (Common production phrase heard on movie sets, e.g., The Film Production Handbook)
Television: "The nature documentary featured incredible close-ups, thanks to hidden remote cameras deployed in the wildlife habitats." (BBC Earth documentary, Planet Wonders)
Social Media: "Just bought a new instant camera! So much fun for parties and candid shots. #PolaroidLove #InstantPhotography" (Instagram post by @PhotoFanatic, June 2025)
Video Games: In many third-person video games, players can manipulate the "camera" to get a better view of their character and surroundings. (Example: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, May 2023)
General Public Discourse:
"Make sure to bring your camera to the concert; you won't want to miss capturing those moments!"
"I think I left my phone on the table. Can you check if the camera light is blinking?"
"They installed a new traffic camera at that intersection, so be careful about speeding."
"Everyone, look at the camera and say cheese!" (Common instruction when taking a group photo)
10 Quotes Using Camera
"For me, the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity." (Henri Cartier-Bresson)
"The camera makes you forget you're there. It's not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much." (Annie Leibovitz)
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." (Dorothea Lange)
"God creates the beauty. My camera and I are a witness." (Mark Denman)
"My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport." (Steve McCurry)
"It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart, and head." (Henri Cartier-Bresson)
"The best camera is the one you have with you." (Jay Maisel)
"Photography is not about cameras, gadgets and gizmos. Photography is about photographers. A camera didn't make a great picture any more than a typewriter wrote a great novel." (Percy W. Harris)
"The camera sees more than the eye, so why not make use of it?" (Edward Weston)
"Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera." (Yousuf Karsh)
Etymology
The word "camera" comes from the Latin phrase "camera obscura," which literally means "dark chamber" or "dark room."
Here's a breakdown:
"Camera" (Latin): This just means "chamber" or "room." You can see this root in other words like "bedroom" (a room with a bed) or "chambermaid" (someone who cleans rooms).
"Obscura" (Latin): This means "dark." Think of words like "obscure" (something unclear or dark) or "obscurity" (the state of being unknown).
So, the original "camera" wasn't the small device we use today. The very first "camera" was literally a dark room or a box with a tiny hole. When light from outside passed through this hole, it projected an upside-down image of the outside world onto the opposite wall or surface inside the dark room.
The first known use of "camera obscura" to describe this optical principle dates back to the 11th century by an Arab scholar named Ibn al-Haytham (also known as Alhazen). However, its use became more widespread in the West during the Renaissance.
Over time, people started making these "dark chambers" smaller and more portable, eventually adding lenses and then photographic film or digital sensors. The "obscura" part of the name was dropped as the device became more refined and its function as a picture-taker became its primary identity, leaving us with just "camera."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Camera
Behind the camera: Refers to the person operating the camera, often the director of photography or cameraman.
In front of the camera: Refers to the person or subject being filmed or photographed.
On camera: Being recorded or broadcast.
Off camera: Not being recorded or broadcast; happening out of view of the lens.
Camera shy: Reluctant to be photographed or filmed.
The camera adds ten pounds: A common, often humorous, saying suggesting that being photographed makes one look heavier than they are in real life.
A camera obscura: (While the etymological origin, it can still be used to refer to the device itself.)
Point and shoot camera: A simple type of camera designed for ease of use.
Hidden camera: A camera concealed for secret surveillance.
Security camera: A camera used for monitoring and surveillance, especially in public or commercial spaces.
Roll camera! (An instruction given on a film set to start recording.)
Action! Camera! (A command used in film production.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of camera from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
