vinyl

vinyl — noun

1. a hard-wearing type of plastic that bends easily, used to make floor coverings,

1.nounB1
Definition

a hard-wearing type of plastic that bends easily, used to make floor coverings, furniture upholstery, rainwear, and household containers

Example

Yael chose a vinyl tablecloth because it was easy to wipe clean.

uncountable: vinyl + noun (tablecloth) as material modifier

The dentist's waiting room had old vinyl flooring that was cracked in places.

Common collocations
  • vinyl flooring
  • vinyl upholstery
  • vinyl siding
  • vinyl wrap
  • vinyl record
  • made of vinyl
Synonyms
  • plastic

    broader category; vinyl is one specific type of plastic

  • PVC

    the chemical name for the same material; more technical

Usage Note

As a material, vinyl is uncountable. You can say 'vinyl flooring', 'vinyl records', or 'made of vinyl'. The word often replaces the full chemical name polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The floor is made by vinyl.
The floor is made of vinyl.
'made of' names the material; 'made by' names the maker.

2. records made from this plastic material, especially when regarded as a music for

2.nounB1
Definition

records made from this plastic material, especially when regarded as a music format that differs from CDs or digital streaming

Example

Quan collects vinyl records from the 1970s rock bands he admires.

collocation: vinyl records

When Saira plays her father's jazz records, she says the vinyl crackle adds warmth that streaming cannot match.

Common collocations
  • vinyl record
  • on vinyl
  • vinyl collection
  • vinyl revival
  • vinyl pressing
  • play vinyl
Synonyms
  • record

    a general term; vinyl specifies the material and implies the traditional disc format

  • LP

    stands for 'long play'; refers specifically to a full-length album on a 12-inch vinyl disc

  • album

    a collection of songs; can be on vinyl, CD, or digital

Antonyms
  • CD

    a different physical format for recorded music

  • digital

    non-physical format such as streaming or MP3 files

Usage Note

As a format, vinyl is uncountable ('I buy vinyl'). For an individual disc it can be countable ('I bought three vinyls yesterday', though some speakers prefer 'vinyl records' or 'LPs'). The phrase 'on vinyl' means 'in the form of a record'.

Common Mistakes

I listen to vinyls.
I listen to vinyl.
When referring to the format in general, use the uncountable form.

Word family

  • vinylic
    adjectiveC1
  • vinyls
    noun pluralB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

These terms overlap in the music world but differ in emphasis. 'Vinyl' highlights the material and format — it contrasts with CD or digital. 'Record' is the broadest term and can refer to any disc format, but in everyday speech it often implies vinyl. 'LP' (long play) is more specific: it means a full-length 12-inch album, not a single or EP. 'Album' refers to the collection of songs regardless of medium — a release can be an album on vinyl, CD, or streaming. Example: 'The album came out on vinyl as a double LP.' In casual use, many people say 'I bought the vinyl' to mean the record version, whereas 'I bought the record' could mean any format.

vinyl ↗record ↗LPalbum ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • vinyl flooring
  • vinyl record
  • vinyl siding
  • vinyl upholstery
  • vinyl wrap

Phrases

  • vinyl revival
  • vinyl collection
  • vinyl pressing

Prepositions

  • on vinyl
  • made of vinyl

Etymology

LatinEnglish

'Vinyl' was first used in chemistry (1850s) for a molecular unit derived from alcohol. The name combines Latin 'vinum' (wine, the source of alcohol) with the chemical suffix '-yl'. In the early 20th century, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was developed into a commercial plastic. By the 1940s–50s, 'vinyl' had entered everyday language for the material itself and for the records pressed from it. The modern sense of 'vinyl' as a retro music format emerged during the CD era (1980s–90s) and grew stronger with the format's revival in the 2010s.