celluloid

noun

cel·​lu·​loid ˈsel-yə-ˌlȯid How to pronounce celluloid (audio)
1
: a tough flammable thermoplastic composed essentially of cellulose nitrate and camphor
2
: a motion-picture film
a work … making its third appearance on celluloidJohn McCarten
celluloid adjective

Examples of celluloid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Somewhere along the way, this gruesome celluloid artifact was elevated from being the sick and disreputable product of a gutter genre to being a high-art masterpiece (Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott all owned 35mm prints of the film). Chris Nashawaty, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024 In October 1974, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre birthed Leatherface, arguably the granddaddy of all celluloid slashers, and radically altered the landscape of horror cinema forevermore. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2024 Max talks about the fact that 90 percent of cinema history still exists only in celluloid form, even though almost nobody screens 35-mm. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2024 Nonetheless, Silverstone sets the celluloid on fire as the sinister, scheming teen, giving a performance that shows the meaning of star power. Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for celluloid 

Word History

Etymology

from Celluloid, a trademark

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of celluloid was in 1870

Dictionary Entries Near celluloid

Cite this Entry

“Celluloid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celluloid. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

celluloid

noun
cel·​lu·​loid ˈsel-(y)ə-ˌlȯid How to pronounce celluloid (audio)
1
: a tough flammable plastic
2
: a motion-picture film
watch a western on celluloid

More from Merriam-Webster on celluloid

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