podcast
UK[ˈpɒdkɑːst]US[ˈpɑːdkæst]
n
a digital audio file made available on the internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
v
to make a digital audio file available as a podcast.
Morpheme Breakdown
pod
cast
pod
device
cast
transmit
Etymology
the word 'podcast' is a modern portmanteau, a blend of two existing english words. it was coined in the early 2000s, combining 'pod' from 'ipod'—apple's iconic portable media player which popularized on-the-go digital audio consumption—and 'cast' from 'broadcast'. the term cleverly leverages the familiar concept of broadcasting, implying the transmission of content, and marries it to the new technology that defined its consumption model. while 'pod' is a brand-specific reference, its meaning has generalized to signify the portable, on-demand nature of the medium. thus, the literal construction "ipod broadcast" evolved into the abstract term for any series of downloadable digital audio files, often subscribed to via web syndication.
Analysis
Structure: pod (device) + cast (transmit)
pod: origin: english (from 'ipod', a brand of portable media player). functional role: root, indicating the portable digital device associated with the medium.
cast: origin: old norse (via old english 'cast', meaning 'to throw'). functional role: root, indicating the act of broadcasting or transmitting.
Examples
i listen to a history podcast on my commute every morning.
she decided to podcast a weekly series interviewing local artists.
the popularity of the true crime podcast led to a television adaptation.