Hollywood
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: enpr: hŏlʹ-ē-wo͝od
ipa: /ˈhɒ.li.wʊd/
ipa: /ˈhɑ.li.wʊd/
rhymes: -ɒliwʊd
Forms: form: Hollywoods
Etymology: The name of the neighbourhood in Los Angeles (sense 1) was coined by real estate developer H. J. Whitley, from holly + wood. By metonymy, it became the name of the industry, and eventually also a name for decadence.
Senses: synonyms: Hollywoodland
glosses: A neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, known as the center of the American motion picture industry.
examples: text: Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.
ref: 2013 June 29, “Travels and travails”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 55:
text: Thinly-veiled homophobia – this time in early-2000s Hollywood – made Brokeback Mountain an immense challenge for Ossana and her fellow producer James Schamus.
ref: 2025 June 20, Nick Levine, “'In every theatre, people would leave': How 'gay cowboy movie' Brokeback Mountain challenged Hollywood – and the US”, in BBC:
synonyms: Hollywoodland
glosses: The American motion picture industry, regardless of location.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A town in Jackson County, Alabama.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A neighborhood and historic district in Homewood, Jefferson County, Alabama.
examples: text: FLL is located between Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
ref: 2020 January 7, Rebecca Wallwork, “Which South Florida airport should I fly into?”, in CNN:
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A city in Broward County, Florida.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Habersham County, Georgia.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, named for a large holly tree.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community and township in Carver County, Minnesota.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Tunica County, Mississippi.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Dunklin County, Missouri.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A neighborhood of Ruidoso, Lincoln County, New Mexico.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A neighborhood in north-east Portland, Oregon.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A neighborhood of Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A town in Charleston County, South Carolina.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
A neighborhood in north Memphis, Tennessee.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Appomattox County, Virginia.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia.
glosses: Other places in the United States:
Former name of MacArthur, West Virginia.
glosses: A village in west County Wicklow, Ireland.
glosses: A village in Wythall parish, Bromsgrove district, Worcestershire, England (OS grid ref SP0877).
glosses: A barangay of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines.
glosses: A nickname for someone involved with the film industry or celebrity culture.
glosses: A surname
Derived terms: word: Bollywood
word: go Hollywood
word: Hezbollywood
word: Hollyweird
word: Hollywoke
word: Hollywood accounting
word: Hollywood bed
word: Hollywood bookkeeping
word: Hollywood ending
word: Hollywoodesque
word: Hollywoodian
word: Hollywoodish
word: Hollywood moment
word: Hollywood on the Tiber
word: Hollywood principle
word: Hollywood wax
word: Jewlywood
word: Kannywood
word: New Hollywood
word: Nollywood
word: Ollywood
word: Pallywood
word: Pedowood
word: Urduwood
Related terms: holly
Hollywoodland
wood