time-lapse

/ˈtaɪmˌlæps/

adjective

Of or relating to a technique in which exposures are taken at fewer intervals than usual so that, on playback, a naturally slow process may be viewed at an accelerated pace.

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Meanings

adjectivetime-lapse (not comparable)
  1. not comparableartsOf or relating to a technique in which exposures are taken at fewer intervals than usual so that, on playback, a naturally slow process may be viewed at an accelerated pace.

    Operation London Bridge, also from 1975, tells the story of the busy station's redevelopment. Cutting neatly from the barrow boys of Borough Market to an aerial view of Borough Market Junction, the film uses time lapse photography to show the congestion rife in the area during the morning rush hour.

    2021 March 10, Greg Morse, “Telling the railway's story on film”, in RAIL, number 926, page 48
nountime-lapse (plural time-lapses)

plural time-lapses · alternative time lapse · alternative timelapse

  1. A film or video using this technique.

Origin

From time + lapse.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic تايم لابس
  • تايم لابسphotographic technique
Catalan filmació a intervals
  • filmació a intervalsphotographic technique
Chinese Mandarin 縮時攝影 /缩时摄影
  • 縮時攝影 /缩时摄影photographic technique
Estonian aegvõte
  • aegvõtephotographic technique
Finnish ajastettu
  • ajastettuphotographic technique
French accéléré
  • accéléréphotographic technique
German Zeitraffer
  • Zeitrafferphotographic technique
Italian time-lapse
  • time-lapsephotographic technique
Japanese 低速度撮影
  • 低速度撮影photographic technique
Lithuanian time-lapse (fotografija)
  • time-lapse (fotografija)photographic technique
Polish (ekspozycja) poklatkowa
  • (ekspozycja) poklatkowaphotographic technique
Portuguese filmagem em intervalos, acelerado
  • filmagem em intervalosphotographic technique
  • aceleradophotographic technique
Russian замедленная киносъёмка
  • замедленная киносъёмка (zamedlennaja kinosʺjómka)photographic technique
Spanish time-lapse, lapso temporal
  • time-lapsephotographic technique
  • lapso temporalphotographic technique
  • filmación por intervalosphotographic technique
Swedish intervallfotografering, tidsförkortning
  • intervallfotograferingphotographic technique
  • tidsförkortningphotographic technique
Cite this entry
APA

time-lapse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time-lapse

MLA

“time-lapse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time-lapse. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “time-lapse,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time-lapse.

Source: time-lapse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.