celluloid Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun highly flammable substance made from cellulose nitrate and camphor; used in e.g. motion-picture and X-ray film; its use has decreased with the development of nonflammable thermoplastics
noun a medium that disseminates moving pictures
film; cinema.
- theater pieces transferred to celluloid
- this story would be good cinema
- film coverage of sporting events
adjective satellite artificial as if portrayed in a film
synthetic.
- a novel with flat celluloid characters

Cellulose + -oid.

A substance composed essentially of gun cotton and camphor, and when pure resembling ivory in texture and color, but variously colored to imitate coral, tortoise shell, amber, malachite, etc. It is used in the manufacture of jewelry and many small articles, as combs, brushes, collars, and cuffs; -- originaly called xylonite.