vcr

vcr — noun

1. A VCR is a machine that records television shows and plays movies that are store

1.nounB1
Definition

A VCR is a machine that records television shows and plays movies that are stored on videocassettes — it was very common in homes before DVDs and online streaming services became popular.

Example

Lucía found an old VCR in her grandmother's attic last weekend.

The VCR stopped working, so Takeshi could not watch his favourite film.

collocation: VCR stopped working

Common collocations
  • record something on a VCR
  • play something on a VCR
  • a stack of VCR tapes
  • VCR recording
  • rewind the VCR
  • the VCR broke down
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

a VCR

the VCR

VCRs

Usage Note

VCRs are now uncommon and have been replaced by DVD players and streaming services. The word is most often used when talking about the past or about old technology. It is a countable noun: 'a VCR', 'two VCRs'.

Common Mistakes

Can you put the DVD in the VCR?
Can you put the DVD in the DVD player?
A VCR cannot play DVDs; it only plays videocassettes.
I still use a VCR to watch Netflix.
I still use a streaming service to watch Netflix.
VCRs cannot stream online content; they only play videocassette tapes.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

VCR is the everyday abbreviation for 'videocassette recorder' — the full term sounds formal and is rarely used in conversation. A 'VHS player' is a specific type of VCR that uses the VHS format, which was the most common format in households; however, 'VCR' is the general term and works for any cassette format. 'Video player' is broader and includes any device that plays video content, such as DVD or Blu-ray players. 'Tape deck' originally referred to audio cassette players but is sometimes loosely used for VCRs. For learners: use 'VCR' in everyday conversation about old technology, and only use 'videocassette recorder' in formal or technical writing.

videocassette recorderVHS playervideo playertape deck

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • on VCR
  • VCR player
  • VCR recording

Prepositions

Etymology

English

VCR is an initialism formed from the first letters of 'Video Cassette Recorder'. The technology became widely available in the 1970s and was a common household device by the 1980s and 1990s. The abbreviation became the everyday name, while the full form is now used only in technical or historical contexts.