cartridge

noun

car·​tridge ˈkär-trij 

 dialectal  ˈka-trij

: a case or container that holds a substance, device, or material which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that usually can be easily changed: such as

a

: a tube (as of metal) containing a complete charge for a firearm and usually an initiating device (such as a primer)

b

: a case containing an explosive charge for blasting

c

: an often cylindrical container for insertion into a larger mechanism or apparatus

d

: cassette sense 2

e

: a small case that contains a phonograph needle and transducer and is attached to a tonearm

f

: a removable case containing a magnetic tape or one or more disks and used as a computer storage medium

g

: a case for holding printed circuit chips containing a computer program

a video-game cartridge

Examples of cartridge in a Sentence

The printer needs a new ink cartridge.

Recent Examples on the Web

Investigators picked up seven 9 mm cartridge casings, according to charging documents, which also said the shooting was entirely captured by camera footage. —Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2024

The boxes contained 12 automatic rifles, 14 pistols and 999 cartridges. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024

This chip, included in select game cartridges, was a graphical accelerator that allowed for real-time 3D polygonal graphics that were otherwise not technically possible on the SNES. —Benj Edwards and Jose Zagal, Ars Technica, 15 May 2024

Before Gill's rise to popularity, GameStop had experienced declining sales amid an industrywide pivot from game cartridges to video game streaming and digital downloads. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 7 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier cartage, modification of Middle French cartouche

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cartridge

• cartridge belt

Kids Definition

cartridge

noun

car·​tridge ˈkär-trij 

: a case or container that holds a substance or device which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that can be easily changed: as

a

: a tube containing a complete charge for a firearm

b

: a holder for photographic film

c

: a device on a phonograph that changes vibrations of the needle into electrical signals

d

: a case for holding a magnetic tape or disk

e

: a case for holding integrated circuits containing a computer program

a video-game cartridge