archive

[ahr-kahyv]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR archive ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Usually archives. documents or records relating to the activities, business dealings, etc., of a person, family, corporation, association, community, or nation.

archives, a place where public records or other historical documents are kept.

any extensive record or collection of data: The encyclopedia is an archive of world history. The experience was sealed in the archive of her memory.

Digital Technology.

a long-term storage device, as a disk or magnetic tape, or a computer directory or folder that contains copies of files for backup or future reference.
a collection of digital data stored in this way.
a computer file containing one or more compressed files.
a collection of information permanently stored on the Internet: The magazine has its entire archive online, from 1923 to the present.

verb (used with object), ar·chived, ar·chiv·ing.

to place or store in an archive: to vote on archiving the city's historic documents.

Digital Technology. to compress (computer files) and store them in a single file.

Nearby words

Origin of archive

1595–1605; orig., as plural < French archives < Latin archī(v)a < Greek archeîa, orig. plural of archeîon public office, equivalent to arch(ḗ) magistracy, office + -eion suffix of place

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for archive

What was not so well known was that there also existed an archive of color images from the war, the result of then new technology.
The Best Coffee Table Books of 2014|Robert Birnbaum|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like Hughes, Price was interviewed for the Boston College archive, but she kept silent about McConville.
Sinn Fein Boss Gerry Adams Wanted This Murder Bust|Ed Moloney|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, he combed through his own archive in order to display the most representative pieces of his work.
What Drives Fashion Designer Dries Van Noten|Sarah Moroz|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We worked with Halston and were given access to their archive and found several pieces that really helped set the tone for Sydney.
The ‘American Hustle’ Style Guide|Erin Cunningham|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They were then shipped to Archive laboratories in Maryland where mold was removed and rips mended.
Saddam’s Jewish Treasures|Josh Robin|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She came rushing out of the archive laden with precious records up to her chin.
The Brain|Alexander Blade
Such Missive, such two Missives (not now found in any archive) speed to England by express; may the winds be favorable.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. VI. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
One room alone contained an archive of business documents estimated at thirty thousand.
Archology and the Bible|George A. Barton
Above that is the archive room, where the elaborate town records are kept.
Life on a Mediaeval Barony|William Stearns Davis
Note that the copy at the Internet archive lacks pages 174–175.
Samboe; or, The African Boy|Mary Ann Hedge

British Dictionary definitions for archive

Word Origin for archive

C17: from Late Latin archīvum, from Greek arkheion repository of official records, from arkhē government

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for archive

archive

noun

verb (used with object), ar·chived, ar·chiv·ing.

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Origin of archive

Examples from the Web for archive

archive

noun (often plural)

verb (tr)

Word Origin for archive

archive