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data-storage medium

data-storage medium

4.1
A device or material that keeps information so you can use it later
  • noun
  • /ˈdeɪtə ˈstɔːrɪdʒ ˈmiːdiəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : soporte de almacenamiento de datos
  • The DVD is a high-capacity, multimedia data storage medium.

Examples

  • The external hard drive serves as a useful data-storage medium for backing up important files.

  • Many people use cloud services as their primary data-storage medium to access files from anywhere.

  • A USB flash drive is a popular data-storage medium for transferring files between computers.

Synonyms

storage device
vsdata-storage medium
  • Specialized
5 3.5

A thing that stores computer files, like a hard drive or USB stick

is broader, covering materials and devices that hold digital or analog information
storage medium
vsdata-storage medium
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A device like a hard drive or CD that holds computer files

is identical in sense but differs by using a compound prefixed name
memory device
vsdata-storage medium
1 3.5

A thing that stores information like files or photos so you can use it later

is broader, including non-hardware materials and analog storage as well
magnetic medium
vsdata-storage medium
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A thing that stores digital information by changing tiny areas on its surface, like a hard drive

is broader, covering various storage technologies beyond magnetic ones
external storage
vsdata-storage medium
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A device you plug into a computer to save or move files

is broader, covering storage both attached to and separate from main memory
magnetic storage medium
vsdata-storage medium
  • Specialized
4.7

A device that stores information using tiny magnetic areas like a hard drive or tape

is more general and applies to any material or device for information

How Big

virtual storage
  • Texting
3.6
data-storage medium
  • Specialized
4.1
microdrive
  • Archaic
6.9
CD
396 1.4
paper
1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

data-storage + media

The phrase is fully compositional: 'data' (information) + 'storage' (the act/place of keeping) + 'medium' (a physical material or device) clearly yields a device/material used to store information. This straightforward noun-compounding pattern is cross-linguistically common and should be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

The name data-storage medium comes from everyday words: data meaning information, storage meaning a place to keep things, and medium meaning a thing that holds something. People pictured real objects like tapes, disks and memory sticks that literally hold files, so today the term means 'a thing that stores information'.