CELLULOID Meaning and
Definition
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Celluloid is a noun that refers to a type of plastic material that was commonly used in the early 20th century for various purposes, particularly in the production of film and photographic negatives. It is derived from cellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, which undergoes a chemical treatment known as nitrocellulose to form celluloid. This material is highly flammable and has a transparent or translucent appearance.
In terms of its usage in film production, celluloid refers specifically to the thin, flexible sheets made from this material that were used as a base for photographic emulsion. The term "celluloid" is often used interchangeably with "film stock" or "negatives" from the early days of cinema. Celluloid film allowed for the capturing and projection of moving images, revolutionizing the entertainment industry and becoming the primary medium for cinema until the advent of digital technology.
Beyond the film industry, celluloid has been used for manufacturing various consumer goods, such as combs, buttons, and toys. Its malleability and ability to mimic materials like ivory or tortoiseshell made it a popular alternative to natural resources. However, due to its instability, vulnerability to degradation, and flammability, celluloid has become less common in contemporary usage, especially in film production.
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A mixture of camphor and gun-cotton, or pyroxylin, made to imitate ivory, tortoiseshell, etc.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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Etymology of CELLULOID
The word "celluloid" was first coined in 1869 by a British inventor named Alexander Parkes. It is derived from the terms "cellulo-", referring to the plant-based cellulose material used, and "-oid", meaning resembling or similar to.
The invention of celluloid was a result of Parkes' experiments to find a substitute for ivory, which was used to make billiard balls. He combined cellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, with camphor, a solid organic compound obtained from the camphor tree. The resulting material was moldable, transparent, and could be easily shaped. Parkes named this synthetic substance "celluloid" because it resembled cellulose.
Celluloid was later used extensively in the film industry as the base material for photographic film and motion picture film.
Similar spelling words for CELLULOID
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