Cartridge is a small, removable container that holds a consumable item—such as ink, toner, or ammunition—within a device or weapon. It is designed for single-use or limited-use replacement, enabling quick, clean replacement and operation. The term emphasizes the contained product and its portability within a mechanism.
"I replaced the printer cartridge to restore color printing."
"The old video game cartridge plugged into the console and started the launch sequence."
"We need a fresh ink cartridge for the inkjet printer before the conference."
"The shotgun's cartridge shell exploded on impact, releasing the pellets."
Cartridge derives from the French cartridge, which in turn comes from the Italian cartuccia, meaning 'cartouche' or cartridge. The term first appeared in English in the 18th century, originally referring to a paper or wooden case containing a charge for firearms. As firearms evolved, the cartridge became a self-contained unit with bullet, powder, and primer integrated into a single metal or paper case. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 'cartridge' broadened to cartridges for printers and other devices, retaining the core sense of a replaceable, self-contained unit. The modern sense of a cartridge as a modular, easily replaceable unit grew with mass production and standardized dimensions, enabling easy swapping in consumer devices and firearms alike. First known use in print for the ammunition sense appeared around the 1780s; for printer/ink cartridges, usage surged in the late 20th century with the advent of consumer inkjet printers.
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Words that rhyme with "Cartridge"
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Cartridge is pronounced as CAR-tridge, with the primary stress on the first syllable. In IPA: US: ˈkɑːr.trɪdʒ, UK: ˈkɑː.trɪdʒ. Start with an open back unrounded vowel in 'car,' then a rhotic R, followed by a short, lax 'trij' ending with a voiced affricate 'dʒ' as in 'judge.'
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying caR-tridge), pronouncing the middle as 'kar‑trid' without the 'r' after the 'a,' and misarticulating the final 'dʒ' as a hard 'j' or 'g' sound. Correct by keeping the 'r' in the first syllable, producing a short 'ɪ' in the second syllable, and finishing with the voiced postalveolar affricate 'dʒ' (like 'judge').
US tends toward 'CAR-trɪdʒ' with rhoticity and a fuller 'ar' vowel. UK often uses 'CAR-trɪdʒ' with slightly shorter 'a' and non-rhoticity in some regions, though rhotic accents still pronounce the 'r' in most word-medial positions. Australian generally aligns closer to US, with a similar 'CAR-trɪdʒ' quality but may feature vowel flattening or length differences before the 'tɪdʒ' ending. IPA highlights: US ˈkɑːr.trɪdʒ, UK ˈkɑː.trɪdʒ, AU ˈkɑː.trɪdʒ.
The challenge comes from the cluster 'tr' immediately before the 'ɪdʒ' ending and the 'r' coloration after the first vowel. For non-rhotic speakers, the 'r' in ‘car’ can be muted, changing the quality of the first syllable. Additionally, the final 'dʒ' sound requires precise tongue tip contact to avoid a 'j' or 'g' mispronunciation. Focus on keeping the 'r' clear and finishing with a clean 'dʒ'.
Cartridge commonly features a stressed first syllable with a short, lax second syllable, and a clear 'dʒ' at the end. The middle 'r' should be lightly voiced, not swallowed, to keep the American and British pronunciations natural. Pay attention to the transition from 'tr' to 'ɪ' and ensure the last sound is a voiced postalveolar affricate rather than a simple 'j' sound.
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