memory
Forms
- Plural
- memories
Definitions
1.The ability of the brain to record information or impressions with the facility of recalling them later, usually at will.
- Memory is a facility common to all animals.
- And they say goldfish have no memory. I guess their lives are much like mine. And the little plastic castle is a surprise every time.
2.A record of a thing or an event stored and available for later use by an organism.
- I have no memory of that event.
- My wedding is one of my happiest memories.
- Sam and his friends will never forget the happy memories of the field trip to France.
3.The part of a computer that stores variable executable code or data (RAM) or unalterable executable code or default data (ROM).
- This data passes from the CPU to the memory.
- My first microcomputer had 12K of memory. When I expanded to a full 64K, I thought I had all the memory I'd ever need. Hah. I know better now.
4.The time within which past events can be or are remembered.
- You have a good memory.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #962
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Uncommon
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman memorie, Old French memoire etc., from Latin memoria (“the faculty of remembering, remembrance, memory, a historical account”), from memor (“mindful, remembering”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mer- (to remember), related to Ancient Greek μνήμη (mnḗmē, “memory”) μέρμερος (mérmeros, “anxious”), μέριμνα (mérimna, “care, thought”), Old English ġemimor (“mindful, remembering”).