| 1. | Architecture. a rounded, convex surface, usually surrounded with carved ornamental scrollwork, for receiving a painted or low-relief decoration, as an escutcheon. |
| 2. | an oval or oblong figure, as on ancient Egyptian monuments, enclosing characters that represent the name of a sovereign. |
| 3. | the case containing the inflammable materials in certain fireworks. |
| 4. | cartridge (def. 1). |
| 5. | a box for cartridges. |

| 1. | Also called cartouche. a cylindrical case of pasteboard, metal, or the like, for holding a complete charge of powder, and often also the bullet or the shot for a rifle, machine gun, or other small arm. |
| 2. | a case containing any explosive charge, as for blasting. |
| 3. | any small container for powder, liquid, or gas, made for ready insertion into some device or mechanism: an ink cartridge for a pen. |
| 4. | Also called magazine. Photography. a lightproof metal or plastic container for a roll of film, usually containing both the supply and take-up spools, as well as a pressure plate, for rapid loading without the necessity of threading the film. |
| 5. | Audio. pickup (def. 8). |
| 6. | a flat, compact container enclosing an endless loop of audiotape, operated by inserting into a slot in a player. |
cartouche
in architecture, ornamentation in scroll form, applied especially to elaborate frames around tablets or coats of arms; by extension, the word is applied to any oval shape or even to a decorative shield, whether scrolled or not. The term is also used for an oval frame enclosing the hieroglyphs of the name of an Egyptian sovereign, as well as for the amulet of similar design worn in ancient Egypt as a protection against the loss of one's name (i.e., one's identity)
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