Technology & the Internet

Life online — logins, downloads, and the occasional virus.

20 words

1. computer n. /kəmˈpjutɝ/

an electronic machine that can store and work with large amounts of information.
2. internet n. /ˈɪntɝˌnɛt/

the global network that connects computers and allows people to share information, use social media, and visit websites. In networking, an internet is a private or public group of smaller networks that are connected together to work as one large system.
3. data n. /ˈdætə/

information, especially facts or numbers, that a computer can store or that people use to make decisions. In computing, data refers to the specific part of a message or file that contains the actual content rather than the information used to send or identify it.
4. browser n. /ˈbɹaʊzɝ/

a person who looks through things casually, or a computer program used to visit websites. In computing, a browser is also a tool used to look through files, folders, or data stored on a computer or a local network.
5. email n. /iˈmeɪɫ/

a digital message sent from one computer or phone to another, or the system used for sending these messages. In computing, email refers to the system or technology used for sending and receiving these digital messages over a network.
6. password n. /ˈpæsˌwɝd/

a secret word or series of characters you use to prove who you are, usually to open a computer account or enter a restricted place.
7. login n. /ˈɫɔˌɡɪn/

the name and password you use to enter a website or computer system. It can also mean the act of entering the system. In computing, a login can also refer to the specific screen or area on a website where you type your credentials to gain access.
8. download v. /ˈdaʊnˌɫoʊd/

to move a file or information from the internet or a larger computer to your own device; it can also mean the file itself.
9. upload v. /ˈəˌpɫoʊd/

to send a file or data from your computer or phone to the internet or another computer.
10. software n. /ˈsɔfˌwɛɹ/

the programs and instructions that tell a computer or smartphone what to do.
11. hardware n. /ˈhɑɹdˌwɛɹ/

a word for physical tools and equipment, especially the parts of a computer or the metal items used in building and repairs.
12. device n. /dɪˈvaɪs/

a common word for a tool or machine made for a specific job, like a phone or a kitchen tool; it can also mean a clever plan or a technique used in writing.
13. screen n. /ˈskɹin/

a flat surface for showing pictures or information, a divider that hides something, or the act of checking people for a disease or a job. In computing, a screen is a particular set of information or a specific window shown on a display at one time.
14. keyboard n. /ˈkiˌbɔɹd/

a set of keys used for typing on a computer or playing music. In computing, a keyboard is a software interface on a screen, like on a smartphone, that lets you enter text without physical buttons.
15. wireless adj. /ˈwaɪɹɫɪs/

a word used for technology that works without cables, like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; in older British English, it also means a radio.
16. network n. /ˈnɛtˌwɝk/

a system of things or people that are connected to each other, like computers, roads, or friends; it also means to meet people for work.
17. server n. /ˈsɝvɝ/

a powerful computer or program that stores data and manages network resources. It sends information, like websites or files, to other computers when they ask for it.
18. file n. /ˈfaɪɫ/

a common word for a collection of information, whether on paper or a computer; it also means a metal tool for smoothing or the act of submitting official papers.
19. folder n. /ˈfoʊɫdɝ/

a container used to organize things, either physical papers in an office or digital files on a computer.
20. virus n. /ˈvaɪɹəs/

a tiny germ that causes illness in people, or a harmful program that damages computers.