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Glite Dictionary
🟣 Colorful TV characters 📺 A kids' show
Teletubbies

Teletubbies

3 3.4
Four colorful characters who play and sing on a children's TV show
  • proper noun
  • /ˈtɛlɪˌtʌbiz/
  • Baby Talk
: Teletubbies
  • It's the Teletubbies land that is Teletubbies baby Zach, what happened to you?

Examples

  • Oh, the face of lovable look like, you know, like Teletubbies, like a bit haunted.

  • Tinky Winky Dipsy Laa-Laa Po Teletubbies...

    Iris (2001)

  • In discussing the difference between Teletubbies and South Park, Britt asks, "Why do we show America's tiniest children worlds glistening with love and tolerance, and so often older kids the opposite?"

    Academic text (1999)

  • Children enjoy watching Teletubbies as they play in their colorful world.

  • The adventures of Teletubbies bring laughter to young audiences everywhere.

  • Every episode of Teletubbies features the playful characters engaging in fun activities.

Surface Forms

Teletubbies main

Morphology

Teletubbies = Teletubby (semi-transparent) = tele + tubby + ies

The name is a playful coined form built from 'tele' and 'tubby', but the plural proper noun is only loosely compositional.

Etymology

Teletubbies comes from the parts tele- meaning 'television' and tubby meaning 'round' or 'chubby'. The four characters are small, round creatures with TV screens on their tummies, so the name reminds us they are 'TV' creatures with 'tubby' bodies.