ENGLISH
REFERENCE

migrate

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmaɪˌɡɹeɪt// UK //maɪɡɹˈeɪt// mi·grate Academic

v. to move data, programs, or settings from one computer system or software to another.

v. to transfer data, software, or hardware configurations from one operating environment or storage system to another. Often involves a change in format or architecture while maintaining data integrity.


SIMPLE

We need to migrate our files to the new server.

CONTEXTUAL

The IT department plans to migrate all user accounts to the cloud-based platform over the weekend to minimize downtime.

COMPLEX

Legacy systems often prove difficult to migrate because their proprietary data structures are incompatible with modern relational databases, necessitating a complex extraction and transformation process.

Synonyms
Origin

First attested in 1623; borrowed from Latin migrātus, perfect passive participle of migrō (“to migrate, change, transport”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Usage

The verb is both transitive (to migrate data) and intransitive (the system migrated). Often takes the prepositions 'to' or 'from'.

Pitfall

migrate the data into the new systemmigrate the data to the new systemIn a computing context, 'to' is the standard preposition for the destination of a migration.

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