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.