Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
album
al‧bum S3 W3 /ˈælbəm/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: 'unused surface for writing on', from albus 'white']
1. a group of songs or pieces of music on a CD, tape etc:
• The band plan to release their new album next week.
2. a book that you put photographs, stamps etc in:
• a photograph album
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
album
album[albumalbums] [ˈælbəm] [ˈælbəm]noun
1. a book in which you keep photographs, stamps, etc
• a photo album
• an online album (= a website where you can store and view photographs)
2. a collection of pieces of music released as a single item, usually on a CD, cassette, or on the Internet
• the band's latest album
• an online album (= an album that you can listen to on the Internet)
compare single
Word Origin:
early 17th cent.: from Latin, neuter of albus ‘white’ used as a noun meaning a blank tablet. Taken into English from the German use of the Latin phrase album amicorum ‘album of friends’ (a blank book in which autographs, drawings, poems, etc. were collected), it was originally used consciously as a Latin word.
Collocations:
Music
Listening
listen to/enjoy/love/be into music/classical music/jazz/pop/hip-hop, etc.
listen to the radio/an MP3 player/a CD
put on/play a CD/a song/some music
turn down/up the music/radio/volume/bass
go to a concert/festival/gig/performance/recital
copy/burn/rip music/a CD/a DVD
download music/an album/a song/a demo/a video
Playing
play a musical instrument/the piano/percussion/a note/a riff/the melody/a concerto/a duet/by ear
sing an anthem/a ballad/a solo/an aria/the blues/in a choir/soprano/alto/tenor/bass/out of tune
hum a tune/a theme tune/a lullaby
accompany a singer/choir
strum a chord/guitar
Performing
form/start/get together/join/quit/leave a band
give a performance/concert/recital
do a concert/recital/gig
play a concert/gig/festival/venue
perform (BrE) at/in a concert/(especially NAmE) a concert
appear at a festival/live
go on/embark on a (world) tour
Recording
write/compose music/a ballad/a melody/a tune/a song/a theme song/an opera/a symphony
land/get/sign a record deal
be signed to/be dropped by a record company
record/release/put out an album/a single/a CD
be top of/top the charts
get to/go straight to/go straight in at/enter the charts at number one
Example Bank:
• His latest album comes out in the spring.
• I keep the photographs in an album.
• It's the singer's first solo album.
• She has not put out a new album this year.
• The band is working on a concept album about Nostradamus.
• The singer recorded her second album in Los Angeles.
• Their best-selling album has won three awards.
• Their new album has been getting good reviews.
• You can download an entire album with a click of a mouse.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
album
album (BOOK) /ˈæl.bəm/
noun [C]
a book with plain pages, typically used for collecting together and protecting stamps or photographs:
a stamp/photograph album
We've put the best wedding photos into an album.
album (MUSIC) /ˈæl.bəm/
noun [C]
a CD or record, etc. that has several pieces of music on it:
Have you heard their new album?
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
album
[æ̱lbəm]
albums
1) N-COUNT An album is a record with about 25 minutes of music on each side. You can also refer to a collection of songs that is available on a record, cassette, or CD as an album.
Chris likes music and has a large collection of albums and cassettes.
Syn:
LP
2) N-COUNT: oft n N An album is a book in which you keep things such as photographs or stamps that you have collected.
Theresa showed me her photo album.