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Glite Dictionary
coin-operated

coin-operated

2 3.7
A machine that works only when you put coins in it
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɔɪnˌɑːpəreɪtɪd/
translation icon : de monedas
  • Coin-operated tournament signups are over here.
  • coin-operated laundry
  • coin-operated machine
  • coin-operated washer

Examples

  • We spent the afternoon playing coin-operated arcade games at the local amusement center.

  • The park has several coin-operated machines where you can get snacks and drinks.

  • Need to know how to use a coin-operated washing machine?

    Blog text (20)

  • But if that's not your speed, you can go play one of the coin-operated games.

    Noobz (2013)

  • Next to them is a German couple, speaking German, looking through a coin-operated binocular.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Once a day, she emptied the coin-operated washing machines, counted the coins, and took them over to the bank to deposit them into the owner's account.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • As anyone who knows the city can attest, the coin-operated public toilets aren't paragons of modern convenience.

    Blog text (16)

  • While visiting the museum, I used a coin-operated audio guide to learn more about the exhibits.

Surface Forms

coin-operated positive
coin operated positive

Morphology

coin-operated = coin + operate (transparent) = coin + operate + ed

The adjective is a straightforward combination of 'coin' + 'operate' with the participial suffix '-ed', meaning 'operated by coin'.

Etymology

Coin-operated comes from two simple words, coin and operate, and means 'operated by a coin'. Think of dropping a coin to make a machine start, which is why a coin-operated machine needs a coin to work.