buff·er 1 (b f  r)n. 1. One that buffs, especially a piece of soft leather or cloth used to shine or polish. 2. A buffing wheel. |
| buff·er 2 (bfr) n. 1. Something that lessens or absorbs the shock of an impact. 2. One that protects by intercepting or moderating adverse pressures or influences: "A sense of humor . . . may have served as a buffer against the . . . shocks of disappointment" (James Russell Lowell). 3. Something that separates potentially antagonistic entities, as an area between two rival powers that serves to lessen the danger of conflict. 4. Chemistry A substance that minimizes change in the acidity of a solution when an acid or base is added to the solution. 5. Computer Science A device or area used to store data temporarily. tr.v. buff·ered, buff·er·ing, buff·ers 1. To act as a buffer for or between. 2. Chemistry To treat (a solution) with a buffer. 3. Computer Science To hold or collect (data) in a buffer. [Probably from obsolete buff, to make a sound like a soft body being hit, of imitative origin.] |
buffer1
n
1. (Transport / Railways) one of a pair of spring-loaded steel pads attached at both ends of railway vehicles and at the end of a railway track to reduce shock due to contact
2. a person or thing that lessens shock or protects from damaging impact, circumstances, etc.
3. (Chemistry) Chem
a. an ionic compound, usually a salt of a weak acid or base, added to a solution to resist changes in its acidity or alkalinity and thus stabilize its pH
b. Also called buffer solution a solution containing such a compound
4. (Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) Computing a memory device for temporarily storing data
5. (Electronics) Electronics an isolating circuit used to minimize the reaction between a driving and a driven circuit
6. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) short for buffer state
hit the buffers Informal to finish or be stopped, esp unexpectedly
vb (tr)
1. (Electronics) to insulate against or protect from shock; cushion
2. (Chemistry) Chem to add a buffer to (a solution)
[from buff2]
buffer2
n
1. (Engineering / General Engineering) any device used to shine, polish, etc.; buff
2. (Engineering / General Engineering) a person who uses such a device
buffer3
n
Brit informal a stupid or bumbling man (esp in the phrase old buffer)
[perhaps from Middle English buffer stammerer]
| buffer (bfr) 1. Chemistry A substance that prevents change in the acidity of a solution when an acid or base is added to the solution or when the solution is diluted. Buffers are used to make solutions of known pH, especially for instrument calibration purposes. Natural buffers also exist in living organisms, where biochemical reactions are very sensitive to changes in pH. 2. Computer Science A device or an area of a computer that temporarily stores data that is being transferred between two machines that process data at different rates, such as a computer and a printer. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | buffer - (chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions buffer solution - a solution containing a buffer chemical compound, compound - (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight |
| 2. | buffer - a neutral zone between two rival powers that is created in order to diminish the danger of conflict zone - an area or region distinguished from adjacent parts by a distinctive feature or characteristic | |
| 3. | buffer - an inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to clear the track framework - a structure supporting or containing something locomotive, locomotive engine, railway locomotive, engine - a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks | |
| 4. | buffer - (computer science) a part of RAM used for temporary storage of data that is waiting to be sent to a device; used to compensate for differences in the rate of flow of data between components of a computer system memory cache, cache - (computer science) RAM memory that is set aside as a specialized buffer storage that is continually updated; used to optimize data transfers between system elements with different characteristics frame buffer - (computer science) a buffer that stores the contents of an image pixel by pixel keyboard buffer - a buffer that keeps track of key strokes until the computer is ready to respond to them memory device, storage device - a device that preserves information for retrieval print buffer - a buffer that stores data until the printer is ready RAM, random access memory, random memory, random-access memory, read/write memory - the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible computer science, computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures | |
| 5. |  buffer - a power tool used to buff surfaces buffing wheel - a wheel that is covered with soft material power tool - a tool driven by a motor | |
| 6. | buffer - a cushion-like device that reduces shock due to an impact auto, automobile, car, motorcar, machine - a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine; "he needs a car to get to work" device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" | |
| 7. | buffer - an implement consisting of soft material mounted on a block; used for polishing (as in manicuring) implement - instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end | |
| Verb | 1. | buffer - add a buffer (a solution); "buffered saline solution for the eyes" modify - make less severe or harsh or extreme; "please modify this letter to make it more polite"; "he modified his views on same-gender marriage" |
| 2. | buffer - protect from impact; "cushion the blow" modify - make less severe or harsh or extreme; "please modify this letter to make it more polite"; "he modified his views on same-gender marriage" |
buffer
Translations
buffer1 [ˈbʌfəʳ]
buffer2 [ˈbʌfəʳ] N old buffer (Brit) → mastuerzo m, carca m
A. N (Brit) (Rail) (on carriage) → tope m; (in station) → parachoques m inv, amortiguador m (de choques) (US) (Aut) → parachoques m inv (Comput) → memoria f intermedia
the plan suddenly hit the buffers → el plan frenó de golpe
the plan suddenly hit the buffers → el plan frenó de golpe
B. VT (fig) (= protect) → proteger
buffer2 [ˈbʌfəʳ] N old buffer (Brit) → mastuerzo m, carca m
buffer:
buffer1
buffer2
buffer solution
n (Chem) → Puffer m, → Pufferlösung f
buffer state
n (Pol) → Pufferstaat m
buffer zone
n → Pufferzone f
buffer1
n (lit, fig, Comput) → Puffer m; (Rail, at terminus) → Prellbock m; to hit the buffers (Brit: plan, project) → am Ende sein
buffer2
n (Brit inf) → Heini m (inf)
buffer [ˈbʌfəʳ] n
a. (for railway engine) → respingente m (fig) → cuscinetto
b. (Comput) → buffer m inv
n buffer [ˈbafə]
an apparatus for lessening the force with which a moving object strikes something. buffer مُخَفِّفُ الصَّدْمَه буфер nárazník, tlumič stødpude; buffer der Stoßdämpfer προφυλακτήρας amortiguador puhver ضربه گیر puskuri tampon פָּגוֹש किसी चलती हुई चीज के टक्कर का प्रभाव कम करने का उकरण odbojnik lökhárító penahan paracolpi, paraurti, tampone 緩衝器 완충 장치 buferis, amortizatorius buferis; amortizators penimbal buffer støtpute, buffer bufor amortecedor tampon; amortizor буфер nárazník blažilec tampon buffert เครื่องรับแรงปะทะ tampon 緩衝器 амортизатор ٹکر ، روک ، ٹکراؤ کی طاقت کو کم کرنے والا vật đệm 缓冲器
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