magnetic core memory

1 8.3

A group of tiny magnetic rings used in old computers to store data

noun
/mæɡˈnɛtɪk kɔr ˈmɛməri/

Archaic

: memoria de núcleo magnético

Many engineers regard magnetic core memory as a significant advancement in computer technology during its time.

Examples

Unlike modern storage methods, magnetic core memory relied on tiny magnetic cores to retain information.
And Forrester and one of his graduate students create the magnetic core memory that's part of this whirlwind system.
The computer itself was the size of a big, wooden office desk, but it had only 8k of magnetic core memory coiled in little metal donuts.

Blog text (7)
The early computers used magnetic core memory to store data before newer technologies were developed.

Synonyms

core memory

vsmagnetic core memory

Archaic

8.1

An old kind of computer storage that uses small magnetic rings to hold data

is the more specific name that highlights the ring storage technology

Surface Forms

magnetic core memory singular

magnetic core memories plural

Morphology

magnetic + core + memory

The phrase is fully compositional: a B1 learner who knows 'magnetic' (using magnetism), 'core' (a central piece or small ring) and 'memory' (data storage) can infer this refers to a type of memory that uses magnetic cores. Although the technical details (e.g. ferrite rings, historical use) may be unfamiliar, the basic meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Magnetic core memory comes from old computers that used tiny magnetic rings called cores with thin wires through them, and each ring was set one way or another to show '1' or '0'. Because those little cores actually held the machine's information, the name came to mean the part 'to store data'.