1. Plural of cinematograph; early motion-picture cameras or projectors, or the films produced by them.
Usage: historical; chiefly British
2. Plural of cinematograph; motion pictures or films collectively.
Usage: historical; archaic

Examples

• The museum displayed several early cinematographs from the 1890s.
• Lumière brothers' cinematographs revolutionized entertainment.
• Silent cinematographs were the first form of mass visual media.
• Collectors seek rare cinematographs from the pioneering era of film.
• The exhibition featured restored cinematographs alongside modern projectors.