Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

cyber

Origin

a combining form meaning “computer,” “computer network,” or “virtual reality,” used in the formation of compound words (cybertalk; cyberart; cyberspace) and by extension meaning “very modern” (cyberfashion).

Origin:
extracted from cybernetics

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To cyber

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Cyber is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

cyber

as a prefix, ultimately from cybernetics (q.v.). It enjoyed explosive use with the rise of the Internet early 1990s. One researcher (Nagel) counted 104 words formed from it by 1994. Cyberpunk (by 1986) and cyberspace were among the earliest.

EXPAND

Cyber is such a perfect prefix. Because nobody has any idea what it means, it can be grafted onto any old word to make it seem new, cool -- and therefore strange, spooky. ["New York" magazine, Dec. 23, 1996]

As a stand-alone, it is attested by 1998 as short for cybersex (which is attested by 1995).

COLLAPSE

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

cyber-
A prefix that means "computer" or "computer network," as in cyberspace, the electronic medium in which online communication takes place.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

FOLDOC

Computing Dictionary