cinema
cinema
Pronunciation
/ˈsɪnəmə/.
First Syllable: /sɪ/
/s/: voiceless alveolar sibilant
/ɪ/: near-front near-unrounded vowel
Second Syllable: /nə/
/n/: alveolar nasal
/ə/: schwa (mid-central vowel)
Third Syllable: /mə/
/m/: bilabial nasal
/ə/: schwa (mid-central vowel)
Word Form Variations
Nouns:
cinema: (singular) Refers to a movie theater or the art/industry of filmmaking.
Example: "Let's go to the cinema tonight."
cinemas: (plural) Refers to multiple movie theaters.
Example: "Many cinemas were closed during the pandemic."
cinematics: (often used in the context of video games) Refers to the art of making motion pictures or, in video games, the non-interactive cutscenes that advance the story.
Example: "The game's cinematics were stunning."
Adjectives:
cinematic: (adjective) Relating to, suggestive of, or suitable for movies or the filming of movies.
Example: "The director created a truly cinematic experience."
uncinematic: (adjective) The opposite of cinematic; not having the qualities of a movie.
Adverbs:
cinematically: (adverb) In a manner that is related to the art or technique of motion-picture photography, or with characteristics reminiscent of a film.
Example: "The scene was shot very cinematically."
Verbs:
cinematize (or cinematise in British English): (transitive verb) To adapt (a novel or play) for cinema.
Example: "They decided to cinematize the classic novel."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A physical venue for the public exhibition of films. This definition emphasizes the building or location where movies are shown.
Synonyms: movie theater, picture house, multiplex (for a large cinema with many screens), flicks (informal, plural)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a place. Could consider "home" or "private residence" in the context of watching movies at home.)
The art form, industry, or collective body of work related to motion pictures. This definition refers to the broader concept of filmmaking and the films themselves.
Synonyms: film, movies, motion pictures, filmmaking, moviemaking, the silver screen, the big screen
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to an art form. Could consider "live theater" or "literature" as distinct art forms.)
Adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a motion picture or the art of filmmaking; having qualities suitable for the big screen. This definition describes something that feels like it belongs in a film or has a grand, visual quality.
Synonyms: filmic, celluloid, visual, epic, dramatic, evocative, spectacular
Antonyms: uncinematic, mundane, prosaic, ordinary, dull, uninspired
Verb (Transitive)
To adapt or transform (a story, play, or concept) into a motion picture; to render suitable for a film adaptation. This definition focuses on the act of converting something into a movie.
Synonyms: film, adapt, movie-ize, screen, shoot (a film)
Antonyms: textualize (to convert to text), novelize (to convert to a novel), dramatize (to convert to a play, though this can sometimes precede cinematization)
Adverb
In a manner that is characteristic of cinema; with visual flair, dramatic pacing, or a style reminiscent of a film. This definition describes how something is done, with a nod to cinematic qualities.
Synonyms: filmically, dramatically, visually, artfully, spectacularly, vividly
Antonyms: uncinematically, prosaically, blandly, simply, understatedly
Examples of Use
Books:
"He had always loved the cinema, the way it could transport you to different worlds with a flicker of light on a screen." (From a fictional novel focusing on character's interests)
"The early days of cinema were marked by rapid innovation, from the Lumière brothers' first projections to the rise of Hollywood's studio system." (From a non-fiction book on film history)
Newspapers:
"Local cinemas are reporting a surge in attendance for family-friendly films this summer." (From a local newspaper article on leisure activities)
"Critics are debating whether the latest superhero blockbuster marks a new direction for mainstream cinema." (From a national newspaper's arts and culture section)
Online Publications:
"The independent cinema movement has fostered a new generation of diverse filmmakers, challenging traditional narratives." (From an online film journal article)
"Is the future of cinema streaming, or will the communal experience of the movie theater always prevail?" (From a technology and entertainment blog post)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Review (Online Platform like Rotten Tomatoes): "The film's stunning visuals and powerful score make it a truly cinematic masterpiece." (Review of a specific film)
Video Game (Dialogue/Description): "The game features extended cinematics to tell its complex story, blurring the lines between gameplay and interactive film." (Description of a video game on a gaming platform like Steam)
Podcast (Discussion): "On today's episode, we discuss the evolution of horror cinema from the silent era to modern jump scares." (Excerpt from a podcast about film genres)
TV Series (Dialogue): "He dreams of opening his own art-house cinema one day, showing classic foreign films." (Character dialogue from a TV show)
General Public Discourse:
"Are you going to the cinema this weekend?" (Casual conversation between friends)
"I prefer the immersive experience of a big-screen cinema over watching movies at home." (Personal opinion shared in a discussion)
"That scene was so cinematic; it felt like it belonged in a high-budget Hollywood film." (Describing an impactful moment in a visual medium)
"The director's latest work is a powerful statement on modern cinema." (A comment made during a post-film discussion)
10 Famous Quotes Using Cinema
"Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world." (Jean-Luc Godard)
"I believe in cinema. I believe in its power to move, to entertain, to enlighten." (Martin Scorsese)
"The cinema is truth at 24 frames per second." (Jean-Luc Godard)
"Films are a disease. When you are caught, it’s like a drug." (Frank Capra, referring to the power of cinema)
"A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet." (Orson Welles, speaking metaphorically about the artistry in cinema)
"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake." (Alfred Hitchcock)
"Cinema is a matter of what you show, not what you tell." (Federico Fellini)
"The cinema is an invention without a future." (Louis Lumière, a famously ironic early prediction)
"Cinema seats are for two things: sex and dreams." (Lars von Trier)
"The art of cinema is the art of seeing." (Robert Bresson)
Etymology
The word "cinema" has a fascinating origin that takes us back to the very beginnings of moving pictures!
It comes from the French word "cinéma," which is actually a shortened version of "cinématographe."
Now, where did "cinématographe" come from? It's a combination of two old Greek words:
"Kinema" (κίνημα): This means "movement" or "motion." Think of words like "kinetic energy" – they all share this root related to movement.
"Graphein" (γράφειν): This means "to write" or "to record." You see this in words like "photography" (writing with light) or "autograph" (self-writing).
So, put together, "cinématographe" essentially means "writing movement" or "recording movement." This perfectly describes what early film cameras did: they captured and recorded images in motion.
The term "cinématographe" was famously coined by the Lumière brothers in the 1890s in France. They were pioneers in filmmaking and invented a device that could not only record films but also develop and project them. Their public screenings in Paris in December 1895 are often considered the birth of projected moving pictures for a paying audience.
The shorter word "cinema" started being used in English around 1899, initially to refer to the "movie hall" or the place where films were shown. Over time, its meaning expanded to also include the films themselves, the entire art form, and the industry of filmmaking.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cinema
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "cinema" or its related concepts:
Art-house cinema: Refers to independent, non-mainstream films, often with artistic or experimental qualities.
Going to the cinema: The common phrase for attending a movie showing at a theater.
The golden age of cinema: A period (roughly 1930s-1950s) considered a peak in Hollywood's production of classic films.
Beyond the cinema: Implies an experience that transcends a typical movie viewing, often used for something incredibly dramatic or grand in real life.
The magic of cinema: Evokes the captivating and transportive power of movies.
Small-screen cinema: Used to describe high-quality television series that rival the production values and storytelling of feature films.
Bring to cinema life: An original phrase meaning to adapt a story or concept for a film, making it vibrant and engaging on screen.
Making a cinematic entrance: (Using the adjective) To enter in a very dramatic, visually striking way, as if in a movie scene.
A picture palace: (Using a synonym) An older, often grand term for a luxurious movie theater.
The silver screen: (Using a synonym/metaphor) A classic idiom referring to the movie screen itself, and by extension, the film industry or films in general.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cinema from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
