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cas·sette

(kə-sĕt, kă-)

1. A small flat case containing two reels and a length of magnetic tape that winds between them, often used in audio and video recorders and players and as a medium for storing data in digital form.

2. A lightproof cartridge containing photographic film or plates, used in specially designed cameras.

3. A cartridge for holding and winding typewriter or printer ribbon while in the machine.

[French, small box, from Old French, diminutive of Norman French casse, case; see CASE².]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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