answering machine

Definition

A device that automatically records incoming telephone messages when a call goes unanswered. The machine would store messages on cassette tape or digital memory, allowing users to retrieve them later.

Example Usage

I wasn't home, so my answering machine picked up and recorded your message about the party.

Origin

First patented in 1898, but became common household items in the 1970s and 1980s as tape technology improved and phone systems evolved.

Fun Fact

Leaving the perfect outgoing greeting on your answering machine was an art form—people re-recorded them multiple times to get the tone just right.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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