buffer

¹

[ buhf-er ]

noun

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, especially 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 annoyance, harm, hostile forces, etc., or that lessens the impact of a shock or reversal.
5. any reserve moneys, negotiable securities, legal procedures, etc., that protect a person, organization, or country against financial ruin.
6. buffer state.
7. Ecology. an animal population that becomes the prey of a predator that usually feeds on a different species.
8. Computers. a storage device for temporarily holding data until the computer is ready to receive or process the data, as when a receiving unit has an operating speed lower than that of the unit feeding data to it.
9. Electronics. a circuit with a single output activated by one or more of several inputs.
10. Chemistry.
    1. any substance or mixture of compounds that, added to a solution, is capable of neutralizing both acids and bases without appreciably changing the original acidity or alkalinity of the solution.
    2. Also called buff·er so·lu·tion [buhf, -er s, uh, -loo-sh, uh, n]. a solution containing such a substance.

verb (used with object)

1. Chemistry. to treat with a buffer.
2. to cushion, shield, or protect.
3. to lessen the adverse effect of; ease:

   The drug buffered his pain.

4. Digital Technology. to temporarily save (data) before actively accessing it so that it can be loaded at a rapid or uniform rate: You’ll get a load screen while the game buffers those high-resolution graphics.

   Give the app time to buffer the audio when you are streaming music.

   You’ll get a load screen while the game buffers those high-resolution graphics.

buffer

²

[ buhf-er ]

noun

1. a device for polishing or buffing, as a buff stick or buff wheel.
2. a worker who uses such a device.

buffer

³

[ buhf-er ]

noun

, British Slang.

1. a foolish or incompetent person.
2. a fellow; man.
3. a chief boatswain's mate in the British navy.

buffer

¹

/ ˈbʌfə /

noun

1. any device used to shine, polish, etc; buff
2. a person who uses such a device

buffer

²

/ ˈbʌfə /

noun

1. 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. chem
   1. 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
   2. Also calledbuffer solution a solution containing such a compound
4. computing a memory device for temporarily storing data
5. electronics an isolating circuit used to minimize the reaction between a driving and a driven circuit
6. See buffer state
   short for buffer state
7. hit the buffers informal.
   hit the buffers to finish or be stopped, esp unexpectedly

verb

1. to insulate against or protect from shock; cushion
2. chem to add a buffer to (a solution)

buffer

³

/ ˈbʌfə /

noun

1. informal.
   a stupid or bumbling man (esp in the phrase old buffer )

buffer

/ 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 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.

buffer

1. In chemistry , the components of a solution that can neutralize either an acid or a base and thus maintain a constant pH .

Notes

Buffers are often used in medications designed to decrease acidity in the stomach .

Other Words From

• un·buff·ered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffer¹

First recorded in 1825–35; buff ² + -er ¹

Origin of buffer²

First recorded in 1850–55; buff ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of buffer³

First recorded in 1745–50; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffer¹

C19: from buff ²

Origin of buffer²

C18: perhaps from Middle English buffer stammerer

Example Sentences

School connection is a protective factor for students — “a buffer for stress,” she said.

From Washington Post

It’s not gathering feedback on whether you’d support a sea wall versus expanding a natural wetland as an ocean buffer.

From Voice of San Diego

In Washington, the smallest buffer allowed on a stream that provides drinking water is 50 feet from either bank, and the state requires that additional trees be left behind up to 200 feet from the water.

From ProPublica

A tree buffer along Old Georgia Highway 3, however, obscured his view of the coal ash ponds on site.

From ProPublica

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said that “no one can do anything other than go to and from voting” in the 100-foot buffer.

From Washington Post

He carried around a hundred pounds too many most of his life, a great buffer of flesh between himself and the world.

From The Daily Beast

The buffer zone would protect civilians, Syrian rebels, and Kurds against ISIS assaults.

From The Daily Beast

Levin is calling for a Turkish buffer zone inside Syria, protected by a U.S.-led no fly zone.

From The Daily Beast

The Kurds entered a buffer zone on the Turkish border and in the melee at least four protestor were wounded.

From The Daily Beast

And the Americans are currently ruling out boots on the ground in Syria or buffer zones.

From The Daily Beast

The Indian agent is the local buffer between contending forces.

From Project Gutenberg

This arrangement acts as a buffer to take up the end thrust on the shaft caused by the varying pressure of the wind on the wheel.

From Project Gutenberg

I took my seat beside him, while the lady, a useful little buffer state, was squeezed in between the two men of wrath at the back.

From Project Gutenberg

She sketches out a letter to be written to the lady who is at present a buffer-state between the dried man and the parched women.

From Project Gutenberg

His letters make a soft buffer, a foolish pretty window, a tinted veil between me and my too-harsh actualities.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bulwark
• cushion
• intermediary