What does "peripheral" mean?

1. (on the edge) located on the edge or outer part of something. 2. (not the main focus) not as important as the main part of a situation or problem. 3. (vision) related to what you can see out of the corner of your eye. 4. (computer equipment) a piece of equipment, like a printer or keyboard, that you connect to a computer.

peripheral

adj. · n.

US //pɝˈɪfɝəɫ// UK //pəɹˈɪfəɹəl// pe·riph·er·al

1 on the edge (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

located on the edge or outer part of something.

relating to or situated on the edge or periphery of an area or object.

Example

The town has many small shops in the peripheral areas away from the center.

Example

The development of peripheral housing estates has significantly increased the daily commute for those working in the city's financial district.
- central
- inner
2 not the main focus (adj.)
C1 Advanced Academic

not as important as the main part of a situation or problem.

of secondary or minor importance; marginal to the core issue.

Example

The cost of the project is a peripheral issue compared to its environmental impact.

Example

While the historical context is interesting, it remains peripheral to the primary objective of this scientific study.

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3 vision (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

related to what you can see out of the corner of your eye.

relating to the outer edges of the field of vision.

Example

I saw a sudden movement in my peripheral vision and turned my head.

Example

The patient reported a gradual loss of peripheral vision, which prompted the specialist to test for early signs of glaucoma.
- central
4 computer equipment (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

a piece of equipment, like a printer or keyboard, that you connect to a computer.

any auxiliary device that connects to and works with a computer to put information into it or get information out of it.

Example

The price of the computer does not include peripherals like a monitor or mouse.

Example

Modern operating systems are designed to recognise and configure most peripherals automatically as soon as they are plugged into a USB port.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der. Ancient Greek περί (perí) Ancient Greek περῐ- (perĭ-) Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Hellenic *pʰérō Ancient Greek φέρω (phérō) Ancient Greek περιφέρω (periphérō) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-ēs Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs) Ancient Greek περιφερής (peripherḗs) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ih₂der. Ancient Greek -ια (-ia) Ancient Greek περιφέρεια (periphéreia)bor. Latin peripheriabor. Middle French peripheriebor. English periphery Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English peripheral From peripher(y) + -al.