buffer

buff·er ¹  (bfr)

n.

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

2. A buffing wheel.

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buffer ¹

Noun

1. one of a pair of spring-loaded steel pads at the ends of railway vehicles and railway tracks that reduces shock on impact

2. a person or thing that lessens shock or protects from damaging impact, circumstances, etc.

3. Chem

a. a substance added to a solution to resist changes in its acidity or alkalinity

b. Also called: (buffer solution) a solution containing such a substance

4. Computers a device for temporarily storing data

Verb

to cushion; provide a buffer for [from buffet²]

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buffer ²

Noun

Brit informal a stupid or bumbling person, esp. a man: an old buffer [origin unknown]

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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.

Thesaurus

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"

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buffer

noun safeguard, screen, shield, cushion, intermediary, bulwark

Translations

buffer [ˈbʌfəʳ] n → amortiguador m;

(COMPUT) → memoria intermedia, buffer m

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buffer [ˈbʌfəʳ] n → tampon m;

(Comput) → mémoire f tampon

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buffer [ˈbʌfəʳ] n (Comput) → Puffer m, Pufferspeicher m;

(Rail) → Prellbock m (fig); Polster nt

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buffer [ˈbʌfəʳ] n → respingente m;

(COMPUT) → memoria tampone, buffer m inv