Advertisement

Advertisement

thaumatrope

[ thaw-muh-trohp ]

noun

  1. a card with different pictures on opposite sides, as a horse on one side and a rider on the other, which appear as if combined when the card is twirled rapidly, thus illustrating the persistence of visual impressions.


thaumatrope

/ ˈθɔːməˌtrəʊp; ˌθɔːməˈtrɒpɪkəl /

noun

  1. a toy in which partial pictures on the two sides of a card appear to merge when the card is twirled rapidly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • thaumatropical, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

  • thau·ma·trop·i·cal [thaw-m, uh, -, trop, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of thaumatrope1

First recorded in 1820–30; thauma(to)- + -trope
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of thaumatrope1

C19: from thaumato- + -trope
Discover More

Example Sentences

These memories lie in confusion, unformed and undefined, like pictures in a thaumatrope.

The thaumatrope, then, did nothing more than illustrate the power of the eye to weld together a couple of alternating impressions.

Why do the figures upon the "Thaumatrope" appear to dance, when they are made to revolve before a mirror?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


thaumatologythaumaturge