buff·er¹

(bŭf′ər)

1. One that buffs, especially a piece of soft leather or cloth used to shine or polish.

2. A buffing wheel.

buff·er²

(bŭf′ər)

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 solution that resists a change in acidity when an acid or base is added to it, or a substance that facilitates this resistance.

5. Computers 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. Computers 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.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

buffer

(ˈbʌfə)

1. (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. (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

7. hit the buffers informal to finish or be stopped, esp unexpectedly

vb (tr)

8. (Electronics) to insulate against or protect from shock; cushion

9. (Chemistry) chem to add a buffer to (a solution)

[C19: from buff²]

buffer

(ˈbʌfə)

1. (General Engineering) any device used to shine, polish, etc; buff

2. (General Engineering) a person who uses such a device

buffer

(ˈbʌfə)

informal offensive Brit a stupid or bumbling man (esp in the phrase old buffer)

[C18: perhaps from Middle English buffer stammerer]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

buff•er¹

(ˈbʌf ər)
n.

1. an apparatus at the end of a railroad car, railroad track, etc., for absorbing shock during coupling, collisions, etc.

2. any device, material, or apparatus used as a shield, cushion, or bumper, esp. on machinery.

3. any intermediate or intervening shield or device reducing the danger of interaction between two machines, chemicals, electronic components, etc.

4. a person or thing that shields and protects against harm or annoyance or that lessens the impact of a shock or reversal.

5. financial reserves that protect a person, organization, or country against bankruptcy.

6. buffer state.

7. a temporary storage area that holds data until the computer is ready to process it.

a. any substance capable of neutralizing both acids and bases in a solution without appreciably changing the solution's original acidity or alkalinity.

b. Also called buff′er solu`tion. a solution containing such a substance.

v.t.

9. to cushion, shield, or protect.

10. to treat with a buffer.

[1825–35; buff² + -er¹]

buff•er²

(ˈbʌf ər)

n.

1. a device for polishing or buffing, as a buff.

2. a person who uses such a device.

[1850–55]

buff·er

(bŭf′ər)

1. Chemistry A substance that prevents change in the acidity of a solution when an acid or base is added to the solution.

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.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

buffer

Past participle: buffered
Gerund: buffering

Imperative
buffer
buffer

Present
I buffer
you buffer
he/she/it buffers
we buffer
you buffer
they buffer

Preterite
I buffered
you buffered
he/she/it buffered
we buffered
you buffered
they buffered

Present Continuous
I am buffering
you are buffering
he/she/it is buffering
we are buffering
you are buffering
they are buffering

Present Perfect
I have buffered
you have buffered
he/she/it has buffered
we have buffered
you have buffered
they have buffered

Past Continuous
I was buffering
you were buffering
he/she/it was buffering
we were buffering
you were buffering
they were buffering

Past Perfect
I had buffered
you had buffered
he/she/it had buffered
we had buffered
you had buffered
they had buffered

Future
I will buffer
you will buffer
he/she/it will buffer
we will buffer
you will buffer
they will buffer

Future Perfect
I will have buffered
you will have buffered
he/she/it will have buffered
we will have buffered
you will have buffered
they will have buffered

Future Continuous
I will be buffering
you will be buffering
he/she/it will be buffering
we will be buffering
you will be buffering
they will be buffering

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been buffering
you have been buffering
he/she/it has been buffering
we have been buffering
you have been buffering
they have been buffering

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been buffering
you will have been buffering
he/she/it will have been buffering
we will have been buffering
you will have been buffering
they will have been buffering

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been buffering
you had been buffering
he/she/it had been buffering
we had been buffering
you had been buffering
they had been buffering

Conditional
I would buffer
you would buffer
he/she/it would buffer
we would buffer
you would buffer
they would buffer

Past Conditional
I would have buffered
you would have buffered
he/she/it would have buffered
we would have buffered
you would have buffered
they would have buffered

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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 buffer zone 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 cowcatcher, fender, pilot 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 buffer storage, buffer store 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 polisher 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 fender 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) buff 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" cushion, soften 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

noun

1. safeguard, screen, shield, cushion, intermediary, bulwark a multinational buffer between the two sides

2. (Brit. informal) geriatric, dinosaur, fossil (informal), relic, fogey, codger, fuddy-duddy (informal), antique (informal) a collection of old buffers

verb

1. protect, cover, screen, guard, defend, shelter, cushion, safeguard The company is buffered by long-term contracts with growers.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

مُخَفِّفُ الصَّدْمَه

nárazníktlumič

bufferstødpude

Puffer Stoßdämpfer

ενταμιευτής

amortiguador

puhver

puskuri

tampon butoir heurtoir mémoire tampon

međuspremnik

höggdeyfir, fjöîrunarbúnaîur

buffer memoria tampone respingente vecchio

amortizatoriusbuferis

amortizatorsbuferis

buffer

¹ [ˈbʌfəʳ]

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

B. VT (fig) (= protect) → proteger

C. CPD buffer state N → estado m tapón
buffer zone N → zona f parachoques

buffer

² [ˈbʌfəʳ] N old buffer (Brit) → mastuerzo m, carca m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

buffer

[ˈbʌfə^r]

(= protection) → tampon m

(COMPUTING) → mémoire f tampon

vt (= protect) → protéger

buffer

buffer solution

n (Chem) → Puffer m, → Pufferlösung f

buffer state

n (Pol) → Pufferstaat m

buffer zone

n → Pufferzone f

buffer

n (lit, fig, Comput) → Puffer m; (Rail, at terminus) → Prellbock m; to hit the buffers (Brit: plan, project) → am Ende sein

buffer

n (Brit inf) → Heini m (inf)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

buffer

[ˈbʌfəʳ] n

a. (for railway engine) → respingente m (fig) → cuscinetto

b. (Comput) → buffer m inv

buffer

(ˈbafə) noun

an apparatus for lessening the force with which a moving object strikes something.

buff·er

n. tampón, tope;

vt. neutralizar, tamponar;

___ system → sistema amortiguador.

buffer

n tampón m

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

A Buffer, suddenly astounding the other three, by detaching himself, and asserting individuality, inquires: 'How discovered, and why?'

Same Buffer inquires with smartness, 'What of?' But herein perishes a melancholy example; being regarded by the three other Buffers with a stony stare, and attracting no further attention from any mortal.

View in context

'I suppose, waiter,' he said, shaking his shock of hair, as a Newfoundland dog might shake his before sitting down to dinner, 'that a fair lodging for a single buffer might be found in these parts, eh?'

Tope's pardon when she found it incumbent on her to correct him in every detail of his summary of the facts, but pleaded that he was merely a single buffer getting through life upon his means as idly as he could, and that so many people were so constantly making away with so many other people, as to render it difficult for a buffer of an easy temper to preserve the circumstances of the several cases unmixed in his mind.

View in context

The old buffer signed it like winking, directly he spotted the rum, but we ain't quite happy about it; you see, it ain't to be supposed that he's got a conscience, and there's only us saw him put his mark there.

View in context

Tootles hated the idea of signing under such a man, but an instinct told him that it would be prudent to lay the responsibility on an absent person; and though a somewhat silly boy, he knew that mothers alone are always willing to be the buffer. All children know this about mothers, and despise them for it, but make constant use of it.

View in context

"I 've been an extravagant rascal, I know it, and I 'm thundering sorry, but that don't help a fellow, I 've got to tell the dear old buffer, and there 's where it cuts."

View in context

and absolutely the worst bit of taste in town, though it's saying something, in that equestrian statue with the gilt stirrups and fixings; why don't they black the buffer's boots and his horse's hoofs while they are about it?

View in context

Snagsby makes another bolt, as if the bit of bread and buffer were insurmountable "--at a rag and bottle shop."

View in context

I took my seat beside him, while the lady, a useful little buffer state, was

View in context

There's that old buffer you found on the lawn," and he pointed without pretence of reverence at the big black body with the yellow head.

View in context

These bolts were pushed outside, and the buffers covered with India-rubber stopped up the holes which let them through.

View in context

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