1. a cassette tape or digital recording containing a selection of songs, typically recorded from various sources and arranged in a particular order
Usage: originally referred to cassette tapes; now commonly used for digital playlists or curated music collections; informal
2. a musical project or album released by an artist, typically shorter and less formal than a full studio album
Usage: hip-hop and rap music context; informal

Examples

• She made a mixtape of her favorite songs to listen to on her commute.
• I created a mixtape playlist for the road trip with upbeat songs.
• The rapper released a mixtape before dropping his official album.
• Back in the 1990s, teenagers would trade mixtapes with their friends.
• He burned a mixtape CD with songs that reminded him of her.
• The artist's mixtape gained millions of streams on streaming platforms.