What does webcam mean?
Word: Webcam
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Webcam means a small device fixed to or built into a computer that films you and sends the live pictures over the internet.
How do you spell webcam?
Syllables: web - cam
Tricky part: Webcam is written as one word, with no space or hyphen between its two parts.
Watch out for: webcamm, webcame
Memory tip: Like smartphone and keypad, webcam is a gadget word written solid, with no gap.
Webcam in a sentence
Example 1: Grandma waved at us through the webcam during our video call.
Example 2: My laptop's webcam has a tiny light that glows when it is on.
Example 3: Our class used a webcam to talk to a school in Kenya.
Fun Fact
One of the first webcams watched a coffee pot at Cambridge University, so that people in other rooms could check whether any coffee was left.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Fusion
Add the correct option to the following to make a new word:
______cam
a) web
b) wed
c) wep
d) webb
Show answer
a) web. Web, the word for the internet's linked pages, is the only one that joins cam to make a word.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) webkam
b) printer
c) laptop
d) keyboard
Show answer
a) webkam. The last part is spelt with c, not k.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
mcabwe 123456
a) 546231
b) 465231
c) 564231
d) 564213
Show answer
c) 564231. Follow the numbers 5, 6, 4, 2, 3, 1 and the letters give the name of the computer camera.
Sound Check
Which of the following words has the short 'e' sound as in webcam?
a) bird
b) bead
c) bride
d) bread
Show answer
d) bread. Bread is said 'bred', so its ea makes the short e sound; bead, bird and bride do not.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Ria's grandparents live far away. How could a webcam help?
a) They could send each other parcels faster
b) They could print each other's photos
c) They could hear the radio together
d) They could see each other on a video call
Show answer
d) They could see each other on a video call
2. Which computer task would need a webcam?
a) typing a story for school
b) showing your face in an online class
c) listening to a recorded song
d) printing your homework sheet
Show answer
b) showing your face in an online class
