daguerreotype

noun

da·​guerre·​o·​type də-ˈger-ō-ˌtīp 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-,

-rə-,

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtīp,

-ˈger-ē-

: an early photograph produced on a silver or a silver-covered copper plate

also : the process of producing such photographs

daguerreotype transitive verb

daguerreotypist

də-ˈger-ō-ˌtī-pist 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-

-rə-

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtī-

-ˈger-ē-

noun

daguerreotypy

də-ˈger-ō-ˌtī-pē 

-ˈger-ə-;

-ˈge-rō-

-rə-

 also  də-ˈger-ē-ō-ˌtī-

-ˈger-ē-

noun

Examples of daguerreotype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Besides our own sun, Vega was the first star to be photographed, with a 20-minute daguerreotype exposure taken at Harvard College Observatory in 1850. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

The daguerreotype was the first widely available photographic process, invented by its namesake, Louis Daguerre, in 1839. —Torey Akers, CNN, 9 July 2024

The quarter-plate daguerreotype of former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of fourth US president James Madison, dates from around 1846. —Torey Akers, CNN, 9 July 2024

The French writer Honoré de Balzac confessed to fearing that each time a daguerreotype was taken of him, a layer of his skin would be peeled off. —Sohini Desai, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

French daguerréotype, from L. J. M. Daguerre + French -o- + type

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

daguerreotype

noun

da·​guerre·​o·​type də-ˈger-(ē-)ō-ˌtīp 

: an early photograph produced on a metal plate

Etymology

named for L. J. M. Daguerre 1789–1851 French painter and inventor