off-line equipment

5.5

Devices not connected to the main computer that must be connected by hand

noun
/ˈɔfˌlaɪn ɪˈkwɪpmənt/

Specialized

: equipo fuera de línea

Before being processed, the data must be transferred from the off-line equipment to the main system.

Examples

The factory uses off-line equipment for quality control.
The laboratory uses off-line equipment to prepare samples before analysis.
Because the printer is off-line equipment, it must be manually connected to upload print jobs.
Is this offline equipment ready for use?
The laboratory uses off-line equipment to prepare samples before analysis.
Before being processed, the data must be transferred from the off-line equipment to the main system.
Because the printer is off-line equipment, it must be manually connected to upload print jobs.

Synonyms

auxiliary equipment

vsoff-line equipment

Specialized

1 5.0

Devices that support the main system but are not controlled by its main computer

are disconnected from direct communication or control by the central unit

Surface Forms

off-line equipment singular

off-line equipments plural

offline equipments plural

offline equipment singular

Morphology

off-line + equipment

The meaning is directly compositional: 'off-line' = not connected/under control and 'equipment' = devices, so 'off-line equipment' straightforwardly means devices not in direct communication with a central unit. Although hyphenation and technical context are slightly specialized, the semantic combination follows a common and transparent pattern that a B1 learner who knows the constituents can derive.

Etymology

The phrase off-line equipment gives a clear picture: machines that are away from the main system and not directly connected. Because they are literally off-line, they must be connected by hand, so the phrase means devices 'not in direct communication' or control of the main computer.