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Definition of peripheral - 8 dictionary results

pe⋅riph⋅er⋅al

  [puh-rif-er-uhl]
Use peripheral in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pertaining to, situated in, or constituting the periphery: peripheral resistance on the outskirts of the battle area.
2. concerned with relatively minor, irrelevant, or superficial aspects of the subject in question.
3. Anatomy. near the surface or outside of; external.
4. Computers. of or pertaining to a peripheral.
–noun
5. Computers. a device or unit that operates separately from the CPU but is connected to it, as a magnetic disk or tape unit or a printer.
Also, peripheric (for defs. 1–3).

Origin:
1800–10; 1965–70 for def. 4; < Gk peripher(s) (see periphery ) + -al 1

Related forms:
pe⋅riph⋅er⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pe·riph·er·al   (pə-rĭf'ər-əl)   
adj.  
  1. Related to, located in, or constituting an outer boundary or periphery.
  2. Perceived or perceiving near the outer edges of the retina: peripheral vision.
  3. Anatomy
    1. Of the surface or outer part of a body or organ; external.
    2. Of, relating to, or being part of the peripheral nervous system.
  4. Of minor relevance or importance.
  5. Auxiliary.
n.   Computer Science
An auxiliary device, such as a printer, modem, or storage system, that works in conjunction with a computer.
pe·riph'er·al·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Peripheral

Pe*riph"er*al\, a. 1. Of or pertaining to a periphery; constituting a periphery; peripheric.

2. (Anat.) External; away from the center; as, the peripheral portion of the nervous system.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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peripheral

Any part that is separate from a computer's CPU, such as a printer, a keyboard, or a monitor.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry: pe·riph·er·al
Pronunciation: p&-'rif-(&-)r&l
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, involving,forming, or located near a periphery or surface part (as of the body)
2 : of, relating to, affecting, or being part of the peripheral nervous system <peripheralnerves>
3 : of, relating to, or being the outer part of the field of vision peripheral vision>
4 : of, relating to, or being blood in thesystemic circulation <peripheral lymphocytes> <peripheral resistance> <peripheral blood> —pe·riph·er·al·ly /-E/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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peripheral pe·riph·er·al (pə-rĭf'ər-əl)
adj.

  1. Related to, located in, or constituting an outer boundary or periphery.
  2. Perceived or perceiving near the outer edges of the retina.
  3. Of or relating to the surface or outer part of a body or organ; external.
  4. Of, relating to, or being part of the peripheral nervous system.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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peripheral   (pə-rĭf'ər-əl)  Pronunciation Key 
Adjective  
  1. Anatomy Relating to or being the surface or outer part of a body or organ.
  2. Relating to or being part of the peripheral nervous system.

Noun   Computer Science An auxiliary device, such as a printer or modem, distinct from a computer's central processing unit and working memory, and often connected externally.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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peripheral hardware
(Or "peripheral device", "device") Any part of a computer other than the CPU or working memory, i.e. disks, keyboards, monitors, mice, printers, scanners, tape drives, microphones, speakers, cameras, to list just the less exotic ones.
High speed working memory, such as RAM, ROM or, in the old days, core would not normally be referred to as peripherals. The more modern term "device" is also more general in that it is used for things such as a pseudo-tty, a RAM drive, or a network adaptor.
Some argue that, since the advent of the personal computer, the motherboard, hard disk, keyboard, mouse, and monitor are all parts of the base system, and only use the term "peripheral" for optional additional components.
(2002-09-03)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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