ipod

IPA/ˈaɪ.pɒd/
KK[ˈaɪpˌɑd]IPA/ˈaɪ.pɑːd/

ipod — noun

  • ipodsingular
  • ipodsplural

1. a small portable device created by Apple that stores digital music, videos, and

1.nounB1
Definition

a small portable device created by Apple that stores digital music, videos, and other audio files so you can listen to them anywhere

Example

Zara put her iPod in her bag before boarding the train.

The old iPod still held over a thousand songs from the early 2000s.

collocation: hold / store + [number] + songs

Common collocations
  • iPod touch
  • iPod classic
  • iPod shuffle
  • iPod nano
  • listen to music on an iPod
  • plug in an iPod
  • sync an iPod
  • iPod charger
  • iPod earphones
Synonyms
  • MP3 player

    a true generic term for any portable digital music player, not a specific brand

  • portable media player

    a broader category covering devices that play not just music but also video and photos

  • Walkman

    an older brand of portable cassette and CD players by Sony; sometimes used loosely by older speakers to mean any portable music device

Usage Note

Although iPod is a trademarked Apple product, the word is occasionally used informally as a generic term for any portable MP3 player — similar to how 'hoover' is used for vacuum cleaners in British English.

Common Mistakes

I put my favourite songs on an iPod cassette.
I put my favourite songs on an iPod as digital files.
iPod does not use cassettes; it stores music as digital audio files.

Word family

  • iPod touch
    nounB1
  • iPod classic
    nounB2
  • iPod shuffle
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

iPod refers specifically to Apple's line of portable media players, known for their sleek design and the iTunes software. An MP3 player is the generic term for any device that plays digital audio files — many brands exist, from low-cost budget models to high-fidelity players. A portable media player is a wider category that includes video playback, photo viewing, and sometimes apps and games. The Walkman, originally Sony's cassette player brand, is often used by older generations to mean any personal music device, regardless of format. In everyday speech, younger speakers say 'iPod' to mean Apple's device, while tech-savvy users say 'DAP' (digital audio player) for high-end non-Apple gear. Example: 'I had a Sony Walkman in the 1990s, then an iPod in the 2000s, and now I use a Fiio MP3 player for high-resolution audio.'

iPod ↗MP3 playerportable media playerWalkman ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • iPod user
  • iPod model
  • iPod generation
  • iPod range

Phrases

  • plug in an iPod
  • sync an iPod
  • charge an iPod
  • connect an iPod

Prepositions

  • on an iPod
  • from an iPod
  • to an iPod
  • with an iPod

Etymology

English

Apple introduced the iPod in October 2001. The 'i' prefix was already used on Apple's iMac and referred to internet, individual, and personal. The 'Pod' part was reportedly inspired by the line 'Open the pod bay doors, HAL' from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The name suggests a small, self-contained device that takes you into your own world of music.