What is a time-lapse video camera?

Question

What is a time-lapse video camera?

Answer 1

Instead of recording 24 photos (frames) every second it will only take 1 photo every minute or so (depending how it is set up) there for for every second of video played back, 24 mins has passed.

Answer 2

Normal video is 30 frames per second (25 in many countries).  If you arrange the shutter (electronic or mechanical) to take one exposure every several seconds or minutes, and later play it at 30 frames per second, it will appear as though time has been greatly compressed.  For instance, you could watch the entire cycle of a flower blooming.