barium ferrite

noun

: a compound of barium and iron oxide BaFe₂O₄ that is used in the manufacture of magnetic storage media (such as floppy disks or magnetic stripe cards)

The new generation of diskettes uses barium ferrite technology that is applied to the platter differently, more like jamming upright commuters into a train or bus. The result is considerably greater density.

—Peter H. Lewis, New York Times, 25 Nov. 1990

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

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