cameocam‧e‧o /ˈkæmi-əʊ $ -oʊ/ noun (plural cameos) [countable] 
Word Origin
a cameo brooch4a short piece of writing that gives a clear idea of a person, place, or event
Word OriginWORD ORIGINcameo
ExamplesOrigin:
1400-1500 ItalianEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
word sets- Danny DeVito made a cameo appearance as a lawyer.
- But he doesn't want to play a cameo.
- From rings she went on to study and catalogue collections of cameos and other jewels from antiquity to the present.
- His looming cameo proclaims sweet innocence, and through the next two-hours we will endure several sightings of his ghost.
- Iggy Pop has a cameo as a bordello patron named Rat Face.
- In my time a cameo set in pearls was thought sufficient.
- Joanna had hoped to play a cameo role ... but pressure of time meant she couldn't.
- Little cameos come to mind: The glorious greens of the rolling countryside in the slanting rays of the evening sun.
WORD SETS► Film
Collocationsanimation, nounanimator, nounart director, nounart house, nounarts cinema, nounbiopic, nounblue movie, nounB-movie, nouncameo, nouncameraman, nouncartoon, nouncine-, adjectivecine-camera, nouncine-film, nouncinema, nouncinematic, adjectivecinematography, nounclip, nouncontinuity, nouncut, nouncutting room, noundirection, noundouble, noundouble bill, noundouble feature, nounepilogue, nounextra, nounfantasy, nounfarce, nounfeature, nounfeature film, nounfilm star, nounfilmstrip, nounflashback, nounflick, nounfootage, nounfreeze-frame, noungaffer, nounHollywood, home movie, nounhorror movie, nounimage, nounimagery, nounlip-synch, verblocation, nounlot, nounmatinée, nounmiscast, verbmotion picture, nounmovie, nounmoviegoer, nounmovie star, nounmovie theater, nounmoving picture, nounmultiplex, nounmusical, nounnarrator, nounnewsreel, nounoff-screen, adverbopening night, nounOscar, nounout-take, nounPG, nounpremiere, nounproject, verbprojection, nounprojectionist, nounprojector, nounprop, nounrating, nounreel, nounrelease, verbremake, nounremake, verbre-release, verbrerun, nounretake, nounrole, nounscreen, nounscreen, verbscreening, nounscreenplay, nounscreen test, nounscreenwriter, nounscriptwriter, nounset, nounshort, nounshot, nounshow, verbsilent, adjectiveslow motion, nounsoundtrack, nounspaghetti western, nounsplicer, nounsplit screen, nounstand-in, nounstill, nounstudio, nounstunt man, nounstunt woman, nountalkie, nountearjerker, nounTechnicolor, nountheatre, nountheme, noun3-D, adjectivetop-grossing, adjectivetrailer, nountravelogue, nounturkey, nounwestern, nounwhodunit, nounX, nounX-certificate, adjectiveX-rated, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► cameo role/appearanceCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a cameo appearance
1a short appearance in a film or play by a well-known actorcameo role/appearance2a short appearance in a game of sport by a player3a small piece of jewellery with a raised shape, usually a person’s face, on a flat background of a different colour: (=a short appearance in a film or play by a well-known actor or person)· Alfred Hitchcock always made a cameo appearance in his own films.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► appearance· Rumours suggesting that Shane MacGowan is likely to make cameo appearances could not be confirmed.· Numerous cartoon stars make cameo appearances and Kathleen Turner is the voice of Jessica Rabbit.· Dave did make a cameo appearance in his kayak to run it but quickly reverted back to the raft.· Wilson makes a memorable cameo appearance showing some serious cleavage as a cocktail waitress who attempts to seduce Guy.· Today he is more of a celebrity than an actor, making cameo appearances, commercials and turning up at premières.· Running back Terry Kirby made only a cameo appearance.
► role· Joanna had hoped to play a cameo role ... but pressure of time meant she couldn't.· The villainous Darth Vader also plays a cameo role.
VERB► make· Rumours suggesting that Shane MacGowan is likely to make cameo appearances could not be confirmed.· Numerous cartoon stars make cameo appearances and Kathleen Turner is the voice of Jessica Rabbit.· Dave did make a cameo appearance in his kayak to run it but quickly reverted back to the raft.· Wilson makes a memorable cameo appearance showing some serious cleavage as a cocktail waitress who attempts to seduce Guy.· Today he is more of a celebrity than an actor, making cameo appearances, commercials and turning up at premières.· Running back Terry Kirby made only a cameo appearance.
► play· Joanna had hoped to play a cameo role ... but pressure of time meant she couldn't.· But he doesn't want to play a cameo.· He played one Blimpish cameo in a short-lived play in Birmingham and a couple of small parts in television plays.· The villainous Darth Vader also plays a cameo role.
a cameo brooch4a short piece of writing that gives a clear idea of a person, place, or event