Singing without a live
orchestra or band. Originally meaning "without
orchestra," it is a
combination of Japanese "kara" meaning "empty/bare-handed" as in "karate", and the "okee" sound from the first syllable of "orchestra" as pronounced by Japanese.
The guy who thought up karaoke created a bar owner's dream, because as patrons provide their own
entertainment by singing along with a machine,
management saves a fortune by not hiring talented
musicians.