Buffer
noun
A thing that prevents harm to another thing or prevents two things from hurting each other.
He used his wealth as a buffer against poverty.
Often appears as...
- act as a buffer
- buffer zone
noun
In computing, a storage area where data is temporarily kept before it is sent to a device.
The software has a buffer that stores the user's keystrokes.
Often appears as...
- buffer memory
- buffer overflow
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A substance that keeps the pH (acidity) of a solution fairly constant, even when acids or bases are added.
Human blood contains a buffer system of bicarbonate ions.
Often appears as...
- buffer solution
- buffer system
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A device used to soften the impact of a machine or vehicle coming into contact with something else, usually composed of heavy-duty materials.
The train has buffers to minimize the impact in case of a collision.
Often appears as...
- train buffer
- buffer stop
verb
To lessen or moderate the impact of something.
She buffered the effect of the loss with a positive attitude.
Often appears as...
- buffer the effect
- buffer the impact
noun
A thing that prevents harm to another thing or prevents two things from hurting each other.
He used his wealth as a buffer against poverty.
Often appears as...
- act as a buffer
- buffer zone
noun
In computing, a storage area where data is temporarily kept before it is sent to a device.
The software has a buffer that stores the user's keystrokes.
Often appears as...
- buffer memory
- buffer overflow
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A substance that keeps the pH (acidity) of a solution fairly constant, even when acids or bases are added.
Human blood contains a buffer system of bicarbonate ions.
Often appears as...
- buffer solution
- buffer system
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A device used to soften the impact of a machine or vehicle coming into contact with something else, usually composed of heavy-duty materials.
The train has buffers to minimize the impact in case of a collision.
Often appears as...
- train buffer
- buffer stop
verb
To lessen or moderate the impact of something.
She buffered the effect of the loss with a positive attitude.
Often appears as...
- buffer the effect
- buffer the impact
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Metaphorical Use
Can describe anything offering protection, not only physical objects.
His quick thinking acted as a buffer against the escalating argument.
Pro Tip 2/2Buffer Vs Barrier
A buffer softens an impact; a barrier stops something from passing through.
A buffer zone reduces conflicts, while a barrier prevents entry.
Pro Tip 1/2Metaphorical Use
Can describe anything offering protection, not only physical objects.
His quick thinking acted as a buffer against the escalating argument.
Pro Tip 2/2Buffer Vs Barrier
A buffer softens an impact; a barrier stops something from passing through.
A buffer zone reduces conflicts, while a barrier prevents entry.
Pro Tip 1/2Metaphorical Use
Can describe anything offering protection, not only physical objects.
His quick thinking acted as a buffer against the escalating argument.
Pro Tip 2/2Buffer Vs Barrier
A buffer softens an impact; a barrier stops something from passing through.
A buffer zone reduces conflicts, while a barrier prevents entry.
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Video examples
Through the shattered...
before the last escalation of violence the lives they were living would hardly be imaginable to people fortunate enough to live in peace along with the great deal of land that the family has lost due to the establishment of the buffer zones the remaining land was considered to be too dangerous to use so workers
Video examples
Inside your computer -...
and mouth and hands of the computer. Basically, it provides a way for the computer to interact with its environment. But it also acts like a buffer to keep the CPU from being overwhelmed by distractions. In this case, the I/O subsystem decides that your mouse click is pretty important
Video examples
This sea creature...
by breaking down detritus and recycling nutrients. This creates the conditions for sea grass beds and shellfish to thrive. Sea cucumber excretions can also aid in coral formation and may play a role in buffering marine environments from ocean acidification.
Video examples
Eben Bayer: Are...
uses these corner blocks to protect their tables in shipment. They used to use a plastic packaging buffer, but we were able to give them the exact same physical performance with our grown material. Best of all, when it gets to the customer, it's not trash.
Video examples
The gift and power of...
He didn't try to invent a buffer between me and reality. It took me a while to understand the power of how he guided me through those nights. What he showed me is that courage is not an absence of fear; courage is fear walking.
Video examples
What we don't know about...
the smallest drops can buffer babies from the biggest global challenges. But understanding breast milk is not just about messaging to mothers and policy makers. It's also about understanding what is important in breast milk
Video examples
Climate change will...
It turns out that the land we were losing was our buffer from the sea. I volunteered to interact with the graphics on the wall, and in an instant my life changed for the second time in two years.
Video examples
Vampire Bats Biting...
believes that the livestock act as a buffer bats prefer passive herds to people reducing the attacks on people but as vampire bat populations increase and more lifestyle become infected this
Video examples
Regina Dugan: From...
an L and an O -- and then a buffer overflow crashed the system. Two letters, an L and an O, now a worldwide force.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 166 PIPE...
we're breeding just a few months ago and they grow very very quickly very important buffer food for lots and lots
Video examples
Through the shattered...
before the last escalation of violence the lives they were living would hardly be imaginable to people fortunate enough to live in peace along with the great deal of land that the family has lost due to the establishment of the buffer zones the remaining land was considered to be too dangerous to use so workers
Video examples
Inside your computer -...
and mouth and hands of the computer. Basically, it provides a way for the computer to interact with its environment. But it also acts like a buffer to keep the CPU from being overwhelmed by distractions. In this case, the I/O subsystem decides that your mouse click is pretty important
Video examples
This sea creature...
by breaking down detritus and recycling nutrients. This creates the conditions for sea grass beds and shellfish to thrive. Sea cucumber excretions can also aid in coral formation and may play a role in buffering marine environments from ocean acidification.
Video examples
Eben Bayer: Are...
uses these corner blocks to protect their tables in shipment. They used to use a plastic packaging buffer, but we were able to give them the exact same physical performance with our grown material. Best of all, when it gets to the customer, it's not trash.
Video examples
The gift and power of...
He didn't try to invent a buffer between me and reality. It took me a while to understand the power of how he guided me through those nights. What he showed me is that courage is not an absence of fear; courage is fear walking.
Video examples
What we don't know about...
the smallest drops can buffer babies from the biggest global challenges. But understanding breast milk is not just about messaging to mothers and policy makers. It's also about understanding what is important in breast milk
Video examples
Climate change will...
It turns out that the land we were losing was our buffer from the sea. I volunteered to interact with the graphics on the wall, and in an instant my life changed for the second time in two years.
Video examples
Vampire Bats Biting...
believes that the livestock act as a buffer bats prefer passive herds to people reducing the attacks on people but as vampire bat populations increase and more lifestyle become infected this
Video examples
Regina Dugan: From...
an L and an O -- and then a buffer overflow crashed the system. Two letters, an L and an O, now a worldwide force.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 166 PIPE...
we're breeding just a few months ago and they grow very very quickly very important buffer food for lots and lots
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
James Howard Kunstler
American Author
Parallel parking is desirable for two reasons: parked cars create a physical barrier and psychological buffer that protects pedestrians on the sidewalk from moving vehicles; and a rich supply of parallel parking can eliminate the need for parking lots, which are extremely destructive of the civic fabric.
Quote examples
Antony Starr
New Zealander Actor
We all like going to the dark side of things; we all like dipping into worlds that we don't know anything about, or hopefully don't know anything about. I think 'Banshee' gives people a chance to do that pretty safely because we all know there's a solid buffer between the show and reality.
Quote examples
Jerry Greenfield
American Businessman
Ice cream is the perfect buffer, because you can do things in a somewhat lighthearted way. Plus, people have an emotional response to ice cream; it's more than just food. So I think when you combine caring, and eating wonderful food, it's a very powerful combination.
Quote examples
Daniel Yergin
American Author
But that's not enough: To maintain energy security, one needs a supply system that provides a buffer against shocks. It needs large, flexible markets. And it's important to acknowledge the fact that the entire energy supply chain needs to be protected.
Quote examples
Dan Schulman
American Businessman
We all have people who are literally one life shock away from going into a crisis. For many of us, we have a buffer in one way or another. We have a savings account, or we have credit that we can go to. The underserved don't have that luxury.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Blackburn
Australian Scientist
Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes in cells. Chromosomes carry the genetic information. Telomeres are buffers. They are like the tips of shoelaces. If you lose the tips, the ends start fraying.
Quote examples
Marvin Minsky
American Scientist
I suspect that pleasure is mainly used to turn off parts of the brain so you can keep fresh the memories of things you're trying to learn. It protects the short-term memory buffers. That's one theory of pleasure.
Quote examples
Aimee Bender
American Novelist
Writing can be a frightening, distressing business, and whatever kind of structure or buffer is available can help a lot.
Quote examples
Toni Morrison
American Novelist
Black people have always been used as a buffer in this country between powers to prevent class war.
Quote examples
Jerry Harrison
American Musician
I see myself as the buffer between the band and the record company.
Quote examples
James Howard Kunstler
American Author
Parallel parking is desirable for two reasons: parked cars create a physical barrier and psychological buffer that protects pedestrians on the sidewalk from moving vehicles; and a rich supply of parallel parking can eliminate the need for parking lots, which are extremely destructive of the civic fabric.
Quote examples
Antony Starr
New Zealander Actor
We all like going to the dark side of things; we all like dipping into worlds that we don't know anything about, or hopefully don't know anything about. I think 'Banshee' gives people a chance to do that pretty safely because we all know there's a solid buffer between the show and reality.
Quote examples
Jerry Greenfield
American Businessman
Ice cream is the perfect buffer, because you can do things in a somewhat lighthearted way. Plus, people have an emotional response to ice cream; it's more than just food. So I think when you combine caring, and eating wonderful food, it's a very powerful combination.
Quote examples
Daniel Yergin
American Author
But that's not enough: To maintain energy security, one needs a supply system that provides a buffer against shocks. It needs large, flexible markets. And it's important to acknowledge the fact that the entire energy supply chain needs to be protected.
Quote examples
Dan Schulman
American Businessman
We all have people who are literally one life shock away from going into a crisis. For many of us, we have a buffer in one way or another. We have a savings account, or we have credit that we can go to. The underserved don't have that luxury.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Blackburn
Australian Scientist
Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes in cells. Chromosomes carry the genetic information. Telomeres are buffers. They are like the tips of shoelaces. If you lose the tips, the ends start fraying.
Quote examples
Marvin Minsky
American Scientist
I suspect that pleasure is mainly used to turn off parts of the brain so you can keep fresh the memories of things you're trying to learn. It protects the short-term memory buffers. That's one theory of pleasure.
Quote examples
Aimee Bender
American Novelist
Writing can be a frightening, distressing business, and whatever kind of structure or buffer is available can help a lot.
Quote examples
Toni Morrison
American Novelist
Black people have always been used as a buffer in this country between powers to prevent class war.
Quote examples
Jerry Harrison
American Musician
I see myself as the buffer between the band and the record company.
Example 1 of 10
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