buffer
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.something that helps protect against harm or reduces the impact of a bad situation.
n.a person or thing that reduces a shock or forms a barrier between incompatible or antagonistic forces.
Simple“The savings account acted as a buffer when he suddenly lost his job.”
In context“The neutral zone was established to serve as a buffer between the two warring factions, preventing direct military engagement while negotiations continued.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a temporary storage area for data, often used when streaming video or moving files.
n.a region of physical memory used to temporarily store data while it is being moved from one place to another.
Simple“The video kept pausing because the buffer was empty due to a slow internet connection.”
In context“The application allocates a specific buffer to handle incoming network packets, ensuring that data is not lost during periods of high traffic.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a substance that keeps a liquid's acidity at a steady level.
n.a solution that resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added to it.
Simple“Blood contains a natural buffer to keep its pH level safe for the body.”
In context“The researcher added a phosphate buffer to the solution to maintain a constant environment for the enzyme reaction.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a slightly silly but kind man, usually an older person.
n.a somewhat foolish or old-fashioned man, typically used in a mildly affectionate way.
Simple“He is a bit of an old buffer, but he tells wonderful stories about the war.”
In context“The club was filled with elderly buffers dozing in leather armchairs and grumbling about the state of modern politics.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to reduce the bad effect of something or to protect one thing from another.
v.to lessen or moderate the impact of something; to act as a protective barrier.
Simple“The thick walls helped to buffer the noise from the busy street outside.”
In context“The government introduced new subsidies to buffer the agricultural sector against the sudden drop in global commodity prices.”
Antonyms - 06 B1 Intermediate
v.when a computer or app stores data temporarily before playing it.
v.to store data in a temporary memory area; often used intransitively to describe a media player loading content.
Simple“Wait a moment while the movie buffers so it doesn't stop later.”
In context“The system is designed to buffer the stream automatically, adjusting the quality based on the user's available bandwidth.”
Synonymsloadpre load
“The IDF says it will continue to remove threats to Israeli citizens and soldiers operating in the security zone - the 10km-deep military buffer in southern Lebanon occupied by Israel.”
“These groundwater stores "respond more slowly to changes in the climate than rivers, which is why they provide a useful buffer during periods of drought", said Prof Alan MacDonald of the British Geological Survey.”
From buff + -er.
Agent noun from obsolete verb buff (“make a dull sound when struck”) (mid-16c.), from Old French buffe (“blow”). The “boatswain's mate” sense is said to be popularly explained by the mate being a “buffer”, that is intermediary, between officers and men, but various other explanations have also been proposed.
In reference to buff leather.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.