3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Buffer \Buff"er\ (b[u^]f"[~e]r), n. [Prop a striker. See
{Buffet} a blow.]
1. (Mech.)
a An elastic apparatus or fender, for deadening the jar
caused by the collision of bodies; as a buffer at the
end of a railroad car
b A pad or cushion forming the end of a fender, which
receives the blow; -- sometimes called {buffing
apparatus}.
2. One who polishes with a buff.
3. A wheel for buffing; a buff.
4. A good-humored, slow-witted fellow; -- usually said of an
elderly man. [Colloq.] --Dickens.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
buffer
n 1: an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
2: an inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to
clear the track [syn: {fender}, {cowcatcher}, {pilot}]
3: (computer science) a part of RAM used for temporary storage
of data that is waiting to be sent to a device; used to
compensate for differences in the rate of flow of data
between components of a computer system [syn: {buffer
storage}, {buffer store}]
4: a power tool used to buff surfaces [syn: {polisher}]
5: a cushion-like device that reduces shock due to contact
[syn: {fender}]
v 1: add a buffer to of solutions; "buffered saline solution for
the eyes"
2: protect from impact; "cushion the blow" [syn: {cushion}, {soften}]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]:
buffer
1. An area of memory used for storing messages. Typically, a
buffer will have other attributes such as an input pointer
(where new data will be written into the buffer), and output
pointer (where the next item will be read from) and/or a count
of the space used or free Buffers are used to decouple
processes so that the reader and writer may operate at
different speeds or on different sized blocks of data.
There are many different algorithms for using buffers, e.g.
first-in first-out (FIFO or shelf), last-in first-out (LIFO or
stack), double buffering (allowing one buffer to be read while
the other is being written), cyclic buffer (reading or writing
past the end wraps around to the beginning).
2. An electronic device to provide compatibility between two
signals, e.g. changing voltage levels or current capability.
more about buffer
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