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noun
1.
a plural of datum.
2.
(used with a plural verb
) individual facts, statistics, or items of information: These data represent the results of our analyses. Data are entered by terminal for immediate processing by the computer.
) individual facts, statistics, or items of information: These data represent the results of our analyses. Data are entered by terminal for immediate processing by the computer. 3.
(used with a singular verb) a body of facts; information: Additional data is available from the president of the firm.
) a body of facts; information: Additional data is available from the president of the firm. Related forms
pre·da·ta, noun
Usage note
Data is a plural of datum, which is originally a Latin noun meaning “something given.” Today, data is used in English both as a plural noun meaning “facts or pieces of information” (These data are described more fully elsewhere) and as a singular mass noun meaning “information”: Not much data is available on flood control in Brazil. It is almost always treated as a plural in scientific and academic writing. In other types of writing it is either singular or plural. EXPANDThe singular datum meaning “a piece of information” is now rare in all types of writing. In surveying and civil engineering, where datum has specialized senses, the plural form is datums.
COLLAPSE
Data is a plural of datum, which is originally a Latin noun meaning “something given.” Today, data is used in English both as a plural noun meaning “facts or pieces of information” (These data are described more fully elsewhere) and as a singular mass noun meaning “information”: Not much data is available on flood control in Brazil. It is almost always treated as a plural in scientific and academic writing. In other types of writing it is either singular or plural. EXPANDThe singular datum meaning “a piece of information” is now rare in all types of writing. In surveying and civil engineering, where datum has specialized senses, the plural form is datums.
COLLAPSE
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Data
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Example Sentences
- States are furiously removing sensitive data from official websites.
- The firm is one of a growing number of internet start-ups that mine unconventional forms of data to offer financial services.
- Analyze and discuss the different forms of data on the page.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun, plural da·ta 
[dey-tuh, dat-uh, dah-tuh] for 1–3, da·tums for 4, 5.
[dey-tuh, dat-uh, dah-tuh] for 1–3, da·tums for 4, 5. 1.
a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; an item of data.
2.
Philosophy.
a.
any fact assumed to be a matter of direct observation.
b.
any proposition assumed or given, from which conclusions may be drawn.
3.
Also called sense datum. Epistemology. the object of knowledge as presented to the mind. Compare ideatum.
4.
Surveying, Civil Engineering. any level surface, line, or point used as a reference in measuring elevations.
5.
Surveying. a basis for horizontal control surveys, consisting of the longitude and latitude of a certain point, the azimuth of a certain line from this point, and two constants used in defining the terrestrial spheroid.
Origin:
1640–50; < Latin: a thing given, neuter past participle of dare to give
1640–50; < Latin: a thing given, neuter past participle of dare to give
Can be confused: data, datum (see usage note at data).
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To data
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
data definition
data, data processing, jargon/day't*/ (Or "raw data") Numbers, characters, images, or other method of recording, in a form which can be assessed by a human or (especially) input into a computer, stored and processed there, or transmitted on some digital channel. Computers nearly always represent data in binary.
Data on its own has no meaning, only when interpreted by some kind of data processing system does it take on meaning and become information.
For example, the binary data 01110101 might represent the integer 117 or the ASCII lower case U character or the blue component of a pixel in some video. Which of these it represents is determined by the way it is processed (added, printed, displayed, etc.). Even these numbers, characters or pixels however are still not really information until their context is known, e.g. my bank balance is £117, there are two Us in "vacuum", you have blue eyes.
(2007-09-10)
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