Typewriter
/[ˈtaɪpˌɹaɪtə(ɹ)]/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A device, at least partially mechanical, used to print text by pressing keys that cause type to be impressed through an inked ribbon onto paper.
- 2 hand-operated character printer for printing written messages one character at a time wordnet
- 3 One who uses a typewriter; a typist. archaic
"So many mongrel words, like typist and typewritist, have been introduced, we propose a fixed designation of—typewriter, to mean the person who writes, and writing machine, the device."
- 4 A machine gun or submachine gun (from the noise it makes when firing). US, dated, slang
"The battle had opened in earnest. From the wooded ridge came in reply the clacking of "typewriters,” and bullets whined over our heads."
- 5 A prank in which fingers are jabbed roughly onto someone's chest followed by striking them over the ear in imitation of using an old-fashioned typewriter.
Example
More examples""I can't think with that noise," she said, as she stared at the typewriter."
Etymology
From type + writer.
Related phrases
More for "typewriter"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.