[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/buffer.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / buffer

[← B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/B/)

# buffer

«buffer» in Mova's school dictionary: **Something that protects one thing from another or softens…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a buffer, buffers); verb (buffer, buffers, buffered, buffering)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Something that protects one thing from another or softens a hit or shock. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#m1)

2) Springs or pads on the end of a train or at the end of a railway track that soften a crash. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#m2)

3) (computing) An area of memory where data is stored for a short time; «buffering» is when a video waits to load. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#m3)

4) (science) A solution that keeps acidity (pH) from changing much. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#m4)

5) (UK, informal) An old-fashioned man, often silly: «an old buffer». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life, children see «buffering...» when videos stop. In geography, a buffer zone keeps two sides or a wild area apart. In science, buffers keep blood or ponds at a steady pH. Phrase: buffer zone, act as a buffer.

### examples

- The video keeps buffering. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#x1)
- The train hit the buffers at the end of the line. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#x2)
- Trees act as a buffer against wind and noise. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#x3)
- The UN keeps a buffer zone between the two armies. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#x4)
- Savings are a buffer against hard times. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#x5)
- The old buffer next door tells long stories. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/#x6)

### note

Countable. «Buffering» as a verb is usually about videos and internet.

### In the corpora

- [Important trips need a buffer, spare time in case something goes wrong.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/world/106-late-and-early-being-on-time/5/)
- [A buffer is extra time kept spare in case something goes wrong, such as a lost passport or traffic.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/world/106-late-and-early-being-on-time/16/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «buffer» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/buffer/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.