buffer

noun

UK/ˈbʌf.əʳ/
US/ˈbʌf.ɚ/

Definitions of buffer noun

protection

  1. Countable

    something or someone that provides protection from potential harm or negative impacts.

    • I purchased a property to act as a buffer against the effects of inflation.

    • The river serves as a natural buffer between the city and the industrial zone.

    • He acted as a buffer between the two parties during negotiations, reducing friction.

  2. Countable

    a device at the front and rear of a train, or at the end of a railway line, that absorbs impact to prevent or minimize damage.

    • The buffers on the train absorbed the impact during the collision, protecting the passengers.

    • The train suffered more damage than expected because of the malfunctioning buffer.

    • Engineers are inspecting the buffer at the end of the track to ensure safety.

  3. CountableUncountable

    a substance that helps to maintain a stable pH in a solution by resisting changes in acidity or alkalinity.

    • This buffer effectively prevents the solution from becoming too acidic.

    • In chemical experiments, buffers are crucial for maintaining a stable reaction environment.

    • We use a buffer to ensure the pH of the culture medium stays within an appropriate range.

extra supply

  1. Countable

    an additional quantity of resources maintained by a company to avoid shortages or interruptions in supply.

    • The company maintains extra inventory as a buffer to handle peak demand.

    • Establishing a buffer stock is essential to cope with potential supply chain disruptions.

    • We need a buffer stock to ensure that the production line does not halt due to material shortages.

man

  1. Countableold-fashioned

    a foolish or rather silly elderly man.

    • That old buffer is saying inappropriate things again.

    • He is an old buffer, but he has a kind heart.

    • Don’t pay attention to him; he's just a silly old buffer.

verb

UK/ˈbʌf.əʳ/
US/ˈbʌf.ɚ/

Definitions of buffer verb

provide protection

  1. Transitive

    to act as a protection against harm or negative impacts.

    • This policy is designed to buffer vulnerable groups from economic shocks.

    • The company increased its reserves to buffer against potential future losses.

    • The organization aims to buffer the community from the effects of extreme weather events.

store information

  1. TransitiveIntransitive

    to store data temporarily in a computer's memory while processing or transferring it.

    • The computer is buffering the video to ensure smooth playback.

    • During download, data is buffered to prevent loss.

    • Due to slow internet speed, the video has to buffer for a while.