cassette
cassette
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "cassette" is /kəˈsɛt/.
First syllable (/kə/):
/k/ - voiceless velar plosive (as in "cat")
/ə/ - schwa, a mid-central vowel (as in "about")
Second syllable (/ˈsɛt/):
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative (as in "sit")
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel (as in "bet")
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive (as in "top")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: cassette
Plural Noun: cassettes
(Note: "Cassette" does not typically function as a verb, adjective, or adverb in standard English.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A sealed plastic case containing a length of magnetic tape, used for recording and playing back audio or video.
Synonyms: tape, audiotape, videotape, compact cassette
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it refers to a specific object. One could consider digital formats as conceptual opposites, e.g., digital file, MP3.)
Definition 2: (Historical, often in "cassette deck" or "cassette player") A device designed to play and/or record audio or video on a cassette.
Synonyms: player, recorder, deck
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this usage.)
Examples of Use
Books: "He rummaged through the dusty box of his father's belongings, unearthing an old walkman and a handful of mixed cassettes he'd made in the 80s."
Newspapers: "The article explored the surprising resurgence of vinyl records and, to a lesser extent, audio cassettes, among music enthusiasts seeking a tangible listening experience." ( The Guardian)
Online Publications: "In an online forum discussing retro technology, one user posted, 'Does anyone remember having to use a pencil to wind up a tangled cassette tape?'" (Reddit, r/Nostalgia)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter Quill's cassette player and his "Awesome Mix" tapes are central to his character and the film's soundtrack.
Music: Many independent bands and small labels continue to release new music on cassette as a niche, collectible format. (Bandcamp, ongoing)
Television: A documentary about 1980s culture featured segments on how cassette mixtapes played a significant role in social interactions and music sharing.
General Public Discourse: "My grandmother found her old exercise cassettes the other day and we had a good laugh trying to follow along to the aerobics instructor."
10 Quotes Using Cassette
"The first thing I remember is the sound of the cassette deck running." (Björk)
"I still have a cassette of me and my dad singing 'Crazy' by Patsy Cline." (Miranda Lambert)
"I carried a boombox, and a lot of cassette tapes." (KRS-One)
"I remember saving up to buy my first walkman and a cassette of Michael Jackson's Thriller."
"My first musical love was a cassette of the 'Grease' soundtrack." (Olivia Rodrigo)
"I grew up on the cassette player, making mixtapes for my friends."
"I had this really cheap little two-track reel-to-reel and a four-track cassette." (Elliott Smith)
"My dad would always record our family trips on a little voice cassette recorder."
"We'd pass around a single cassette with a new album, listening to it over and over."
"I still have boxes of old demo cassettes from when I was starting out.
Etymology
The word "cassette" comes from French. It literally means "little box."
"Casse": In Old North French (a dialect of French), "casse" meant "case" or "box." This word itself has roots in the Latin word "capsa," which referred to a box or container, especially for books.
"-ette": This is a French suffix that makes a word a diminutive, meaning it makes it smaller or less significant. Think of other English words that use this suffix like "kitchenette" (a small kitchen) or "statuette" (a small statue).
So, when you combine "casse" (box) with "-ette" (little), you get "cassette," or "little box."
The word "cassette" first appeared in English around 1793 with its original meaning of "a little box." It was used to describe various small containers.
It wasn't until much later, in 1960, that the meaning specifically referring to the "magnetic tape cartridge" (the kind we associate with audio and video) came into common use. This is because the design of these tape containers resembled a small, enclosed box.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cassette
Rewind the cassette: (Original phrase) To revisit past events or memories.
Pop in a cassette: (Original phrase) To begin an activity, often implying an old-fashioned or simple approach.
Stuck on a broken cassette: (Original phrase) Repeatedly saying or doing the same thing, unable to move forward (similar to a damaged tape).
A blank cassette: (Original phrase) An opportunity or situation where anything is possible, ready to be "recorded" upon.
Playing the same old tape: (Idiom using synonym "tape") Repeating the same arguments, complaints, or stories.
To fast-forward the tape of life: (Idiom using synonym "tape") To wish for time to pass quickly, especially during a difficult period.
Off the record (tape): (Idiom using synonym "record," originally referring to a recording) Something said confidentially or not for public dissemination.
To be on tape: (Idiom using synonym "tape") To have one's words or actions captured by a recording device.
Hit the tape: (Original phrase, derived from "hit the record button") To begin recording or documenting something.
Like a worn-out cassette: (Original phrase) Describing something or someone that has lost its original quality or vibrancy due to overuse.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cassette from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
