file name extension
- noun
- Specialized
- To save your document, make sure to include the correct file name extension, like .docx for Word files.
Examples
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Removing hidden file name extensions.
Blog text (1) -
You'll know you're in the correct folder because you'll see all of your other applications (with an "apk" file name extension).
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Use Palm OS and there are plenty of free apps, including Mobipocket Reader, which can open the newer Kindle format books simply by changing the file name extension to .prc or .mobi.
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Different file name extensions help your computer recognize the type of file, such as .jpg for images.
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When sharing a video online, always check the file name extension to ensure it's compatible with the platform.
Synonyms
A phone or number connected to the main office line
Letters and symbols added after a file name, usually starting with a dot, to show the file type
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning (the characters added to a file's name that indicate its type) is directly compositional from 'file' (the item), 'name' (its identifier) and 'extension' (an add-on or ending). This follows a transparent noun-modifier pattern commonly used in computing and is cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
File name extension comes from the simple idea of adding a small tag to the end of a file name, where the extension is like a short tail often starting with a dot. So, it tells the computer the file's 'type' and which 'program' can 'open' it.