buffer

11 definitions • 8 examples

something or someone that helps protect from harm:

I bought a house as a buffer against inflation.

the metal parts at the front and back of a train or at the end of a track, that help protect the train and reduce damage if the train hits something

a chemical that keeps a liquid from becoming more or less acidic

an extra supply of materials that a company keeps in order to prevent a situation where none are available:

"Just-in-time production" means that no buffer stocks are held in the factory.

a silly old man:

Silly old buffer!

to provide protection against harm

When a computer buffers information or buffers, it stores information temporarily in its memory while dealing with it or sending it.

something that helps protect from harm:

[ C ] Some people buy stocks as a buffer against inflation.

someone or something that provides protection against difficult situations, problems, angry people, etc.:

serve as/act as/be a buffer Savings can be a buffer during times of financial hardship.

a buffer against sth A special committee was formed to serve as a buffer against customer complaints.

a buffer between sth and sth HR was called in to act as a buffer between managers and disgruntled employees.

the part of a computer's memory that temporarily stores information before exchanging it with another piece of equipment such as a printer, keyboard, or external drive

to provide protection against difficult situations, problems, angry people, etc.:

Interest-rate concerns were buffered by some better-than-expected earnings reports.