# buffer

/ˈbəfɝ/ (US) · /bˈʌfɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buffer
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. a protective barrier

noun · CEFR B2

something that helps protect against harm or reduces the impact of a bad situation.

For teachers: a person or thing that reduces a shock or forms a barrier between incompatible or antagonistic forces.

- The savings account acted as a buffer when he suddenly lost his job.
- The neutral zone was established to serve as a buffer between the two warring factions, preventing direct military engagement while negotiations continued.

### 2. computing storage

noun · CEFR B2

a temporary storage area for data, often used when streaming video or moving files.

For teachers: a region of physical memory used to temporarily store data while it is being moved from one place to another.

- The video kept pausing because the buffer was empty due to a slow internet connection.
- The application allocates a specific buffer to handle incoming network packets, ensuring that data is not lost during periods of high traffic.

### 3. chemical balance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a substance that keeps a liquid's acidity at a steady level.

For teachers: a solution that resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added to it.

- Blood contains a natural buffer to keep its pH level safe for the body.
- The researcher added a phosphate buffer to the solution to maintain a constant environment for the enzyme reaction.

### 4. an old man

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

a slightly silly but kind man, usually an older person.

For teachers: a somewhat foolish or old-fashioned man, typically used in a mildly affectionate way.

- He is a bit of an old buffer, but he tells wonderful stories about the war.
- The club was filled with elderly buffers dozing in leather armchairs and grumbling about the state of modern politics.

### 5. to protect or soften

verb · CEFR B2

to reduce the bad effect of something or to protect one thing from another.

For teachers: to lessen or moderate the impact of something; to act as a protective barrier.

- The thick walls helped to buffer the noise from the busy street outside.
- The government introduced new subsidies to buffer the agricultural sector against the sudden drop in global commodity prices.

### 6. to load data

verb · CEFR B1

when a computer or app stores data temporarily before playing it.

For teachers: to store data in a temporary memory area; often used intransitively to describe a media player loading content.

- Wait a moment while the movie buffers so it doesn't stop later.
- The system is designed to buffer the stream automatically, adjusting the quality based on the user's available bandwidth.

## Examples

- I keep some extra money in my account as a buffer.
- The trees act as a natural buffer between the noisy highway and the quiet residential neighborhood.
- Economists argue that maintaining a significant capital buffer is essential for banks to withstand sudden market volatility without requiring a government bailout.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.