webcam
gb/wˈɛbkəm/ us/wˈɛbkəm/
B1
English
~ 5200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Small camera for internet video
A small camera on or connected to a computer or phone that lets people see you over the internet.
Usage pattern:
a webcam on [a computer/device]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write *"an webcam"* because they see the letter "w" as a vowel sound. The correct form is *"a webcam"* because "webcam" starts with a /w/ consonant sound. Learners may also confuse "webcam" with a regular "camera"; a webcam is specifically for use with a computer or the internet.
Synonyms
web camera (Almost identical in meaning; simply a two-word form of the same term.)
|
video camera (More general; any device that records or sends video, not only over the internet or on computers.)
|
camera (Very general word; does not specifically suggest internet use or a computer connection.)
Collocations
built-in webcam
|external webcam
|webcam microphone
|webcam chat
|turn on the webcam
|webcam footage
Themes
technology
|communication
|internet
Examples
- My laptop’s webcam stopped working during the online meeting.
- She covered her webcam with tape for extra privacy.
- The new monitor comes with a high-definition webcam built into the top.
- Before the interview starts, make sure your webcam and microphone are working.
- He bought an external webcam because the one on his old laptop was very low quality.
Learner examples
- My laptop has a webcam above the screen.
- Please turn on your webcam for the class.
- I use a webcam to talk with my family online.
- The webcam on this computer is very clear.
unknown
B2
entity
2
Live online video feed
A live video on a website or app that shows a place in real time using a webcam.
Usage pattern:
a webcam of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is the physical camera only. In this sense, "webcam" refers to the live online video feed, not the device itself.
Synonyms
live cam (Informal term often used for always-on internet cameras; similar but slightly more colloquial.)
|
livestream (Broader; any live video broadcast online, not only those from fixed webcams.)
Collocations
live webcam
|traffic webcam
|beach webcam
|webcam view
|webcam stream
Themes
technology
|internet
|media
|communication
Examples
- Check the ski resort’s webcam to see how much snow there is.
- The city set up a live webcam in the main square for tourists.
- Before going to the beach, she looked at the beach webcam to see how crowded it was.
- The wildlife webcam caught a rare view of a fox hunting at night.
Learner examples
- We watched the city webcam on a travel website.
- You can see the mountain on a live webcam.
- The zoo has a webcam so people can see the animals.
- I like to look at the beach webcam before I drive there.
Verb
informal
C1
action
3
Talk using a webcam video
To talk with someone online while you both use webcams so you can see each other.
Usage pattern:
to webcam with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly say *"do a webcam"* or *"make a webcam"* when they mean *"video chat"* or *"webcam" as a verb. In informal English, people say *"webcam with someone"* or more commonly *"video chat with someone"*.
Synonyms
video chat (Very common neutral term; sounds more standard and is often preferred, especially in writing.)
|
video call (Stresses the idea of a call; often used for more formal or work-related communication.)
Antonyms
text (To communicate only with written messages instead of live video.)
Collocations
webcam with friends
|webcam together
|webcam all night
|webcam online
Themes
communication
|internet
|daily life
|relationships
|technology
Examples
- We usually webcam with our grandparents every Sunday evening.
- They spent hours webcamming while she was studying abroad.
- I can’t webcam right now because my internet connection is too slow.
- She prefers to webcam instead of just sending voice messages.
Learner examples
- I often webcam with my family at night.
- Let’s webcam later so I can see your new room.
- We can webcam tomorrow instead of meeting in person.
- He doesn’t like to webcam when his hair is messy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
webcam
IPA
GB/wˈɛbkəm/
US/wˈɛbkəm/
Syllables & stress
web - cam (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (web)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: webcam
- Plural: webcams
Verb
- Base: webcam
- 3rd Person Singular: webcams
- Present Participle: webcaming
- Past: webcamed
- Past Participle: webcamed
Word family
Expressions
turn off the webcam
1/tˈɚn ˈɔf ðə wˈɛbkəm/
fixed phrase
Deactivate a webcam
To stop the webcam so it no longer shows your video.
Examples
- You can turn off the webcam if you don’t want to be seen.
- She turned off the webcam at the end of the meeting.
- The trainer asked everyone to turn off their webcams to save bandwidth.
turn on the webcam
1/tˈɚn ˈɔn ðə wˈɛbkəm/
fixed phrase
Activate a webcam
To start the webcam so it begins to show your video.
Examples
- Please turn on the webcam so the teacher can see you.
- He forgot to turn on the webcam at the beginning of the interview.
- Before we start the call, I’ll turn on the webcam and check the lighting.
webcam chat
1/wˈɛbkəm t͡ʃˈæt/
fixed phrase
Online chat using webcams
An online talk where people use webcams so they can see and hear each other.
Examples
- They had a long webcam chat to plan their trip.
- The support agent offered to help via a quick webcam chat.
- We set up a webcam chat with our friends overseas every month.
webcam stream
1/wˈɛbkəm stɹˈim/
fixed phrase
Continuous video from a webcam
A live video that comes from a webcam and plays on a website or app.
Examples
- The webcam stream of the harbor runs 24 hours a day.
- Thousands of people watched the eagle nest on the webcam stream.
- The webcam stream froze because of a weak internet connection.