Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense buffers, present participle buffering, past tense, past participle buffered
1. countable noun [NOUN noun]
A buffer is something that prevents something else from being harmed or that prevents two things from harming each other.
Keep savings as a buffer against unexpected cash needs. [+ against]
...a multinational buffer force between the two sides.
The Prison Service acts as a buffer between the minister and his critics.
[Also + between]
Synonyms: safeguard, screen, shield, cushion More Synonyms of buffer
2. verb
If something is buffered, it is protected from harm.
The company is buffered by long-term contracts with growers. [beVERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: protect, cover, screen, guard More Synonyms of buffer
3. countable noun [usually plural]
The buffers on a train or at the end of a railway line are two metal discs on springs that reduce the shock when a train hits them.
[mainly British]
4. countable noun
A buffer is an area in a computer's memory where information can be stored for a short time.
[computing]
5. countable noun
If you refer to a man as an old buffer, you think they are rather foolish.
[British, informal, disapproval]
...a collection of old buffers who meet at the Grosvenor House once a month for lunch.
buffer in British English1
(ˈbʌfə)
noun
1.
one of a pair of spring-loaded steel pads attached at both ends of railway vehicles and at the end of a railway track to reduce shock due to contact
2.
a person or thing that lessens shock or protects from damaging impact, circumstances, etc
3. chemistry
a.
an ionic compound, usually a salt of a weak acid or base, added to a solution to resist changes in its acidity or alkalinity and thus stabilize its pH
b. Also called: buffer solution
a solution containing such a compound
4. computing
a memory device for temporarily storing data
5. electronics
an isolating circuit used to minimize the reaction between a driving and a driven circuit
6. short for buffer state
7. hit the buffers
verb(transitive)
8.
to insulate against or protect from shock; cushion
9. chemistry
to add a buffer to (a solution)
Word origin
C19: from buff2
buffer in British English2
(ˈbʌfə)
noun
1.
any device used to shine, polish, etc; buff
2.
a person who uses such a device
buffer in British English3
(ˈbʌfə)
noun
British informal
a stupid or bumbling man (esp in the phrase old buffer)
Word origin
C18: perhaps from Middle English buffer stammerer
buffer in American English1
(ˈbʌfər)
noun
1.
a device using padding, springs, hydraulic pressure, etc. to lessen or absorb the shock of collision or impact
2.
any person or thing that serves to lessen shock or prevent sharp impact, as between antagonistic forces
3.
any substance in a solution that tends to stabilize the hydrogen ion concentration by neutralizing any added acid or alkali
4.
a computer storage area that temporarily holds data being transferred from one device to another, as to compensate for the different processing rates of the devices
verb transitive
5.
to protect against shock or impact; cushion or insulate
6. Chemistry
to add a buffer to (a solution)
Word origin
buff2, v. + -er
buffer in American English2
(ˈbʌfər)
noun
1.
a person who buffs or polishes
2.
a buffing wheel, stick, block, or cloth
Word origin
, buff1 verb transitive + -er
buffer in American English3
(ˈbʌfər)
noun
British, Informal
an elderly man variously regarded as old fashioned, stodgy, ineffectual, etc.
usually used with old
COBUILD Collocations
buffer
capital buffer
In other languages
buffer
British English: buffer NOUN
A buffer is something that prevents something else from being harmed or that prevents two things from harming each other.
Keep savings as a buffer against unexpected cash needs.
American English: buffer
Brazilian Portuguese: resguardo
Chinese: 缓冲物
European Spanish: amortiguador
French: tampon
German: Puffer
Italian: protezione
Japanese: 緩衝物
Korean: 완충 장치
European Portuguese: resguardo
Latin American Spanish: amortiguador
British English: buffer VERB
If something is buffered, it is protected from harm.
The company is buffered by long-term contracts with growers.
American English: buffer
Brazilian Portuguese: resguardar
Chinese: 缓冲
European Spanish: amparar
French: protéger
German: schützen
Italian: proteggere
Japanese: 衝撃を減らす
Korean: 완화하다
European Portuguese: resguardar
Latin American Spanish: amparar
All related terms of 'buffer'
buffer fund
money put aside to help alleviate the adverse short-term effects of something
buffer zone
A buffer zone is an area created to separate opposing forces or groups which belongs to neither of them.
buffer force
a force separating two opposing sides
buffer memory
a temporary holding area for data
buffer state
A buffer state is a peaceful country situated between two or more larger hostile countries.
buffer stock
a stock of a commodity built up by a government or trade organization with the object of using it to stabilize prices
buffer solution
a solution to which a salt of a weak acid or base has been added
capital buffer
A buffer is something that prevents something else from being harmed or that prevents two things from harming each other.