artifact
any object made by human beings, especially with a view to subsequent use.
a handmade object, as a tool, or the remains of one, as a shard of pottery, characteristic of an earlier time or cultural stage, especially such an object found at an archaeological excavation.
any mass-produced, usually inexpensive object reflecting contemporary society or popular culture: artifacts of the pop rock generation.
a substance or structure not naturally present in the matter being observed but formed by artificial means, as during preparation of a microscope slide.
a spurious observation or result arising from preparatory or investigative procedures.
any feature that is not naturally present but is a product of an extrinsic agent, method, or the like: statistical artifacts that make the inflation rate seem greater than it is.
Digital Technology. a visible or audible anomaly introduced in the processing or transmission of digital data: Your computer might need a new graphics card if you see green pixels where you should not, or other graphics artifacts.Ghosting artifacts in an MRI are usually the result of patient movement during a scan.
Digital Technology. to introduce a visible or audible anomaly in (an image or audio file) during the processing or transmission of digital data: Compression may artifact your recording with clicking or echoing sounds.The video appears to be heavily artifacted.
Origin of artifact
1- Also especially British, ar·te·fact .
Other words from artifact
- ar·ti·fac·tu·al [ahr-tuh-fak-choo-uhl], /ˌɑr təˈfæk tʃu əl/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use artifact in a sentence
But so far, the lack of proven Roman artifacts or ruins in the town has raised suspicions.
Winnowing down countless artifacts to compile A History of New York in 101 Objects was challenging enough.
As Yablon pointed out at the opening, some time capsules do not invite the public to submit their own artifacts for preservation.
Each room wound up being a work of art—beautiful unto itself with its combination of colors and artifacts.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and More | Gary Wright | September 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPerhaps that is why the books look so authentic; they could be artifacts from the era.
Bam! Pow! Bling! Hip-Hop's History Gets the Graphic Novel Treatment | Daniel Genis | August 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In determining length of periods he relies far more on artifacts and less on probable rate of accumulation.
The New Stone Age in Northern Europe | John M. TylerNone of the Pyrrans kept old artifacts of any kind and thought the whole idea was very funny.
Deathworld | Harry HarrisonSome of the carbon compounds in the various artifacts showed a faint trace of radiocarbon, others showed none.
Dead Giveaway | Gordon Randall GarrettBut I am of the opinion that the artifacts on Lobon bear a distinct resemblance to those of the City.
Dead Giveaway | Gordon Randall GarrettIt would report a regrettable absence of alien artifacts by which the monsters might be kept in mind.
Operation Terror | William Fitzgerald Jenkins
British Dictionary definitions for artifact
/ (ˈɑːtɪˌfækt) /
a variant spelling of artefact
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for artifact
An object produced or shaped by human craft, especially a tool, weapon, or ornament of archaeological or historical interest.
An artificial product or effect observed in a natural system, especially one introduced by the technology used in scientific investigation or by experimental error.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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