Database Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：structured data collection (database)

database 🔊

/ˈdeɪtəbeɪs/

Information kept in a computer in a neat order, like a big digital filing cabinet, so you can find things easily.

structured data collection 🔊

➕

/ˈstrʌktʃərd ˈdeɪtə kəˈlekʃən/

A structured set of data held in a computer, typically in a way that allows for easy access, retrieval, and management.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'data' (given facts) and 'base' (foundation), meaning a structured information collection.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'data base' as the foundation (base) where you store all your data.

📖 Example

The librarian updated the library's database so she could find any book in seconds. 🔊 The librarian updated the library's database, which enabled her to find any book instantly.

🔗 Collocations

update a database – to add, modify, or delete information in a database

database management – the process of organizing and maintaining a database

database system – a software system for storing and retrieving data

🔄 Synonyms

data repository (n.) – a central place where data is stored and managed

data store (n.) – a storage location for digital data

information system (n.) – a system that processes and stores information

🌱 Derivatives

databasing (n.) – the activity of creating or managing a database

📖 Cultural Story

First used in the 1960s in computing, combining 'data' and 'base' to describe organized computerized information. It replaced earlier terms like 'data bank'.