buffer

1 of 4

noun (1)

buff·​er ˈbə-fər How to pronounce buffer (audio)
plural buffers
1
: any of various devices or pieces of material for reducing shock or damage due to contact
2
: a means or device used as a cushion against the shock of fluctuations in business or financial activity
3
: something that serves as a protective barrier: such as
b
: a person who shields another especially from annoying routine matters
4
: a substance capable in solution of neutralizing both acids and bases and thereby maintaining the original acidity or basicity of the solution
also : a solution containing such a substance
5
: a section of computer memory for temporarily storing information
especially : one that accepts information at one rate and delivers it at another
The streaming video feed continues to download into the buffer while the computer starts playing the movie.
buffered adjective

buffer

2 of 4

verb

buffered; buffering ˈbə-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce buffer (audio) ; buffers

transitive verb

1
: to lessen the shock of : cushion
2
: to treat (something, such as an acid solution) with a buffer
also : to prepare (aspirin) with an antacid
3
: to collect (data) in a buffer

buffer

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural buffers
: someone or something that buffs
especially : a machine that cleans and polishes
a floor buffer

buffer

4 of 4

noun (3)

plural buffers
British slang
: fellow, man
a jolly buffer
especially : an old man
And now that I'm an old crock and he's an old buffer, we have our daily skirmishes—he wants the window closed, I want it open. Fiona Cooper

Examples of buffer in a Sentence

Verb The trees help buffer the house from the hot summer sun. The wall buffers the noise of the traffic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The jellyfish not only steal the show, but their tank also provides a buffer between the bar and one of the dining rooms. Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 All are designed to safely unsettle the vehicle and teach proper car control (the track is typically about 60’ wide, so there is plenty of buffer for mistakes). Michael Harley, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 The full project list, which is estimated to cost $1.1 million, includes narrowing vehicle travel lanes, and establishing new bike lanes, bike lane buffers and special bike crosswalk strips at multiple intersections. Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2024 Because of the magnitude of uncertainty involved, complex problems require a bit of a buffer. Roger Whitney, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Ukraine also provides an important buffer between Russia and NATO countries. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 Ahead of the race, McDaniel released a letter boasting endorsements from more than 100 of the 168 voting RNC members, handing her buffer room to shed support to a challenger and still be on strong footing. John Santucci, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2024 In order to prevent another tragedy like Cross Plains, Walker proposed using goats to create a buffer 100 yards wide around rural communities. Christopher Torres, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2024 China’s priority on the Korean Peninsula is to preserve the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s regime so that his country remains a critical buffer between the Chinese border and U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. Olivia Wang, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024
Verb
But the couch, the rug, the dining room table — what used to buffer the noise of the tiled living room — were gone. Charles Jensen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Producing more things promotes biodiversity and buffers them against big price fluctuations. Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024 Further, the official description describes the vulnerability as a heap buffer overflow in WebP in Google Chrome. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 21 Sep. 2023 Off-chip data is communicated via a PCIe-like streaming interface, and data is buffered on-chip using global PE SRAM. IEEE Spectrum, 1 Nov. 2023 Scientists have determined Cima Dome is a climate refugia — a place that is buffered from climate change — where Joshua trees should be able to thrive. Liz Kreutz, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2023 So writes my colleague Tyrone Beason, in a beautiful story about land in Southern California’s Orange County being returned to two Indigenous tribes, whose goals include restoring local ecosystems and buffering the coastal area against sea level rise. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2023 Shenhua’s vertical integration of power-generation and logistics businesses offers earnings visibility, helping stabilize growth and buffer against volatility, Lau says in a note. WSJ, 4 Dec. 2023 Birds that stay put also need to bulk up to buffer against the frigid, lean season ahead. Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buffer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

buff, verb, to react like a soft body when struck

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1749, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of buffer was in 1749

Dictionary Entries Near buffer

Cite this Entry

“Buffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buffer. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

buffer

1 of 3 noun
buf·​fer
ˈbəf-ər
1
: a device or material for reducing shock resulting from contact
2
: something that serves as a protective barrier
3
: a substance that in solution can neutralize both acids and bases
4
: a temporary storage unit (as in a computer)
especially : one that accepts information at one rate and delivers it at another

buffer

2 of 3 verb
buffered; buffering
-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to lessen the shock of : cushion
2
: to treat (a solution) with a buffer
also : to prepare (aspirin) with an antacid
3
: to collect (as data) in a buffer

buffer

3 of 3 noun
buff·​er
ˈbəf-ər
: one that buffs

Medical Definition

buffer

1 of 2 noun
buff·​er ˈbəf-ər How to pronounce buffer (audio)
1
: a substance or mixture of substances (as bicarbonates and some proteins in biological fluids) that in solution tends to stabilize the hydrogen-ion concentration by neutralizing within limits both acids and bases
2

buffer

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to treat (as a solution or its acidity) with a buffer
also : to prepare (aspirin) with an antacid

More from Merriam-Webster on buffer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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