playlist
UK[ˈpleɪlɪst]US[ˈpleɪlɪst]
n
A list of digital audio or video files that can be played on a computer or media player, especially in a particular order.
n
A selection of recorded songs or pieces of music chosen to be broadcast together or listened to as a group.
Morpheme Breakdown
play
list
play
list
Etymology
The word "playlist" is a modern English compound, formed in the mid-20th century from two native Germanic roots. The first element, "play," carries its evolved sense of performing or reproducing recorded sound or moving images. The second element, "list," retains its core meaning of a sequential catalogue or series. The compound logically describes a catalogue of items intended for playback. While the components are ancient, their combination reflects a distinctly late-modern technological concept, illustrating how language repurposes fundamental words to name new inventions and cultural practices.
Analysis
Structure: play + list
- play (Old English): From Old English plegian, plegian meaning "to exercise, frolic, perform music." In this compound, it functions as an attributive noun indicating the content (audio/video media) to be played.
- list (Old English): From Old English liste meaning "a strip, border, or band." It evolved to mean "a roll or catalogue," functioning as the head noun denoting a structured series or catalogue.
Examples
I created a relaxing playlist for my evening commute.
The radio station has a playlist dominated by pop hits from the last decade.
The video streaming service allows users to save videos to a custom playlist.