A1 noun Neutral

recording

/rɪˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

A recording is a piece of music or sound that has been captured on a device like a phone or computer. It allows people to listen to the performance or speech at a later time.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I have a new recording of my favorite song.

I have a new audio file of the song I like most.

2

The committee reviewed the recording of the official proceedings.

The group listened to the captured sound of the formal meeting.

3

Hey, listen to this phone recording I made of the birds!

Listen to this audio I took on my phone of the birds.

Word Family

Noun
recording
Verb
record
Adjective
recorded
Related
recorder
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'ing' ending like a 'ring' tone—a recording is the sound you hear ringing from your phone.

Quick Quiz

I made a ____ of the piano song on my phone so I could listen to it later.

Correct!

The correct answer is: recording

Examples

1

I have a new recording of my favorite song.

everyday

I have a new audio file of the song I like most.

2

The committee reviewed the recording of the official proceedings.

formal

The group listened to the captured sound of the formal meeting.

3

Hey, listen to this phone recording I made of the birds!

informal

Listen to this audio I took on my phone of the birds.

4

Students analyzed the audio recording for their linguistics research.

academic

The students studied the sound file for their university work.

5

Please find the recording of the webinar attached to the email.

business

Please see the saved video of the online meeting in the email.

Word Family

Noun
recording
Verb
record
Adjective
recorded
Related
recorder

Common Collocations

studio recording a high-quality recording made in a professional studio
make a recording to capture sound or video using a device
digital recording sound stored as electronic data
video recording a captured sequence of moving images and sound
original recording the first version of a captured sound

Common Phrases

off the record

not intended to be shared publicly

like a broken record

someone who repeats the same thing many times

on the record

stating something officially for others to hear

Often Confused With

recording vs recorder

A 'recorder' is the machine or instrument used to make the sound, while a 'recording' is the result.

recording vs record

A 'record' often refers to a physical vinyl disc or a piece of data, while 'recording' is the general term for the captured sound.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'recording' when you are talking about the specific file or piece of media you can listen to. It is a countable noun, so you can have 'many recordings'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use the verb 'record' when they should use the noun 'recording'. For example, say 'I finished the recording' instead of 'I finished the record'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'ing' ending like a 'ring' tone—a recording is the sound you hear ringing from your phone.

📖

Word Origin

From the Old French word 'recorder', meaning to repeat or to get by heart (from 'cor', meaning heart).

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun (e.g., three recordings) Often follows verbs like 'make', 'play', or 'listen to' Can be used as a gerund or a noun
🌍

Cultural Context

In modern culture, the shift from physical recordings (CDs) to digital streaming has changed how people share music.

Quick Quiz

I made a ____ of the piano song on my phone so I could listen to it later.

Correct!

The correct answer is: recording

More music words

piano

A1

A large musical instrument with a row of black and white keys that are pressed to make sound. It produces music by hitting wire strings with small hammers and is used in many styles of music.

instrument

A1

An object that is played to make musical sounds, such as a piano, guitar, or drum. It can also be a tool used by scientists or doctors to do very exact work.

bass

A1

The bass is the lowest range of musical notes or the lowest-sounding part in a piece of music. It also refers to a person with a very deep singing voice or instruments like the bass guitar that play low notes.

sharp

A1

In music, a sharp is a symbol (#) that tells a player to play a note one half-step higher. It also refers to the specific note that has been raised.

note

A1

In music, a note is a single sound with a specific pitch and length. It also refers to the written symbol on a page that tells a musician which sound to play.

flat

A1

In music, a flat is a symbol (♭) that tells a musician to play a note a half-step lower than usual. It also describes a sound or voice that is slightly lower than the correct musical pitch.

beat

A1

The regular pulse or rhythm in a piece of music that you can clap your hands or tap your feet to. It is the basic unit of time in a song that helps musicians stay together.

scale

A1

A musical scale is a set of musical notes ordered by pitch, going up or down in a specific pattern. It acts like a ladder of sounds that musicians use to create melodies and harmonies.

melody

A1

A melody is a sequence of musical notes that are pleasant to listen to and form a main tune. It is the part of a song that people usually hum or sing along with.

bar

A1

In music, a bar is a short section of music that contains a specific number of beats. It is shown on paper by vertical lines that divide the musical staff into equal parts.

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