nickelodeon
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A coin-operated jukebox or player piano, especially one from the early 20th century: A "nickelodeon" is a type of entertainment machine that automatically plays music when a coin, originally a nickel, is inserted. It typically refers to early models that played records or piano rolls. 2. (Historical) An early movie theater with an admission price of one nickel: In historical context, a "nickelodeon" was also a simple, early 20th-century movie theater where patrons paid a nickel for admission.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Jukebox):
- The old diner still had a vintage nickelodeon in the corner.
- He put a coin in the nickelodeon to play his favorite song.
- Noun (Historical Theater):
- In 1907, thousands of nickelodeons opened across the United States.
- The film was first shown in a crowded nickelodeon.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used nostalgically or in historical discussions to evoke the early days of popular recorded music or cinema.
- While originally a generic term, "Nickelodeon" is now a registered trademark for a major children's television network. In modern casual use, people often refer to the TV channel simply as "Nickelodeon" or "Nick."
Variants and Related Words
- Jukebox: A more modern and general term for a coin-operated music-playing machine.
- Player piano: A self-playing piano, often coin-operated, which is a specific type of nickelodeon.
- Phonograph: An early device for playing sound recordings, which a nickelodeon cabinet often contained.
Synonyms
- Jukebox (for the music machine)
- Music box (in a broad, historical sense)
- Picture show (for the historical theater context)
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Drop a nickel in the nickelodeon: This phrase evokes the specific action required to operate the machine and is used to describe selecting and playing a song in a nostalgic or old-fashioned setting.
- He walked over and dropped a nickel in the nickelodeon, filling the room with a classic tune.
Noun
- a cabinet containing an automatic record player; records are played by inserting a coin