Meaning & use
portable media player
Last updated
UK/ˈpɔːtəbl ˈmiːdiə ˈpleɪə/
US/ˈpɔːrtəbl ˈmiːdiə ˈpleɪər/
Meaning
nouncountable
A small electronic device that stores and plays music, videos, or other digital media.
Grammar: Countable noun: you can say 'a portable media player' or 'portable media players'.
Patterns
- use a portable media player
- carry a portable media player
She listens to music on her portable media player during her commute.
The store sells portable media players, headphones, and chargers.
Word forms
| plural | portable media players |
|---|
Common combinations
- digital portable media player
- He bought a digital portable media player for his workouts.
- portable media player with a screen
- This portable media player with a screen lets you watch videos.
- charge a portable media player
- You need to charge your portable media player before the trip.
Synonyms and how they differ
- MP3 player
- This usually refers only to audio players, while a portable media player can also play video.
- iPod
- This is a brand name; use 'portable media player' for any brand.
Word family
- media player noun
- A general term for software or hardware that plays media.
Commonly confused: portable media player or media center?
portable media player vs media center
A media center is usually a home entertainment system, not a small portable device.
Practice
What is a portable media player?
Choose one answer.
A portable media player is designed for playing media and is small enough to carry. The other options are either not portable or not for media playback.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “portable media player”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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