vinyl

From Latin vīnum (“wine”) +‎ -yl. Derived from Latin vīnum because ethyl alcohol is the ordinary alcohol present in wine.

• IPA^(key): /ˈvaɪ.nəl/, /ˈvaɪ.nɪl/, /ˈvaɪ.nl̩/
• enPR: vīʹnəl, vīʹnĭl

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪnəl, -aɪnɪl

vinyl (countable and uncountable, plural vinyls)

1. (chemistry, uncountable) The univalent radical CH₂=CH−, derived from ethylene.
2. (countable) Any of various compounds and substances containing the vinyl radical, especially various tough, flexible, shiny plastics.

   Hyponyms: polyvinyl chloride, PVC

3. (music, collectively, uncountable) Phonograph records as a medium.

   Many DJs prefer vinyl to CDs.

4. (music, countable) A phonograph record.

   Coordinate term: acetate

   • 2011, David Eagleman, Why the Net Matters, Canongate Books, →ISBN:

     This is a tangible example of the net's natural flow toward improved environmental outcomes. Although some people lament the loss of flipping through CDs, or eight-tracks, or vinyls, there is a clear upside to dematerialization.

vinyl (not comparable)

1. (chemistry) Containing the vinyl radical.

   Synonym: vinylic

2. Made of polyvinyl chloride.
3. (music) Pertaining to a phonograph record.
   • 1979, “Boogie Wonderland”, in I Am, performed by Earth, Wind & Fire:

     Dance, boogie wonderland / Sound fly through the night / I chase my vinyl dreams to boogie wonderland

   • 2015, Dominik Bartmanski; Ian Woodward, Vinyl: The Analogue Record in the Digital Age, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 48:

     After being gifted a turntable and investing in relatively inexpensive speakers, he talks about becoming reacquainted with the Impulse vinyl version of John Coltrane's celebrated jazz album, A Love Supreme.

• vinyl group on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• polyvinyl chloride on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “vinyl”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.