Definition

Noun: - A brand of gramophone: "Victrola" is a trademarked brand name for a type of phonograph or record player, historically produced by the Victor Talking Machine Company. It refers specifically to the machines manufactured under this brand.

Usage

• The word "Victrola" is used as a proper noun to identify a specific brand of early audio playback device. It is often used in historical contexts or when referring to antique sound equipment.
• Example: "The family gathered around the Victrola to listen to the new record." (This specifies the brand of the device being used.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is sometimes used generically or nostalgically to refer to old-fashioned, wind-up gramophones, even if they are not the specific Victrola brand.
• Example: "In the attic, we found an old Victrola, its horn still gleaming." (This likely refers to a phonograph of that era, possibly evoking the classic Victrola style.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gramophone (n): A general term for an early device for playing recorded sound, typically using a disc record and a horn for amplification. A Victrola is a type of gramophone.
• Phonograph (n): Another general term, often synonymous with gramophone, for a machine that reproduces sound from records.
• Record player (n): A more modern term for a device that plays vinyl records.

Synonyms

• Gramophone
• Phonograph
• Record player (modern equivalent)

Notes on Meaning

• "Victrola" is a brand name that became so iconic it is sometimes used as a common noun for similar devices, a process known as genericization. However, it correctly refers only to the products of the Victor Talking Machine Company (and later, RCA Victor).

Noun

1. a brand of gramophone