buffer

¹

[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

²

[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

³

[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 buffer solution. 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

¹

/ 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 called: buffer 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. short for buffer state

7. informal,  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

²

/ ˈbʌfə /

noun

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

buffer

³

/ ˈbʌfə /

noun

1. any device used to shine, polish, etc; buff

2. a person who uses such a device

buffer

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.

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

Other Word Forms

• unbuffered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffer¹

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

Origin of buffer²

First recorded in 1745–50; origin uncertain

Origin of buffer³

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffer¹

C19: from _buff ²

Origin of buffer²

C18: perhaps from Middle English buffer stammerer

Example Sentences

U.K. investors will turn their attention back to data after the recent budget announcement sparked relief among investors as it leaves the government with a solid fiscal buffer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lucy Burns, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, who receives universal credit, said the change provided a "little buffer" for her family of six, including a stepson.

Read more on BBC

Reeves was also under pressure to reduce the cost of government debt and increase the buffer she has against future economic shocks, known as headroom.

Read more on BBC

“Under certain circumstances, your home could potentially provide a buffer,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A partner can sometimes act as a much-needed buffer in strained family dynamics.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• bulwark 
• cushion 
• intermediary