megaphone

Meanings

Noun

• A portable, usually hand-held, funnel-shaped device that is used to amplify a person’s natural voice toward a targeted direction.
• Mouthpiece or promoter; one who speaks for or publicizes on behalf of another.
• A cytotoxic neolignan obtained from the laurel Aniba megaphylla.

Verb

• To use a megaphone; to speak through a megaphone.

Related

Similar words

• speaking trumpet

Narrower meaning words

• bullhorn, the modern electronic amplification version

Broader meaning words

• loudhailer, blowhorn

Origin

• From mega- + -phone.
• Named for the root Aniba megaphylla -one.