peripherally

American  

[puh-rif-er-uh-lee] / pəˈrɪf ər ə li /

adverb

1. in a way that relates to or is close to the edge or boundary.

   These small, peripherally located urban communities are almost like rural ones.

2. in a way that concerns relatively minor, superficial, or indirectly related aspects of a subject or situation.

   Industries that rely even peripherally on steel will also be affected by the tariff.

   Some of the nurses wrote a lot about their healthcare experiences, while others mentioned the topic infrequently or only peripherally.

3. Anatomy. near the surface, edge, or exterior of the body structure in question.

   The primary lung lesion was located peripherally in 18 patients and centrally in 8 patients.

4. Computers.

   1. in a way that is separate from a computer’s CPU but in communication with it, as a webcam, flash drive, or keyboard.

      In this section we discuss input and output devices that are used peripherally with the computer.

   2. in a way that is separate from a network’s host computer but in communication with it, as a shared input terminal, printer, or backup drive in a workplace.

      Resources offered by the new networking system will be used more intensively on any peripherally connected computer or router.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unperipherally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of peripherally

First recorded in 1800–10; 2000–05 peripherally for def. 4; peripheral ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )