cameo
[ˈkæm.iː.əʊ]
[ˈkæm.i.oʊ]
A cameo is a small appearance or performance by someone famous in a movie, TV show, or other work.
You might see a celebrity like Beyoncé making a quick guest appearance in her friend's music video - that would be a cameo. It can also refer to a small decorative stone or shell with an image carved into it. In this case, the term is borrowed from ancient art where cameos were made by carving images into these stones.
How common is "cameo"?
Word cameo is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
noun
A piece of jewelry, etc., carved in relief.
verb
To appear in a cameo role.
Real examples of "cameos" in context
