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impact printer

impact printer

3.9
A printer that makes letters and pictures by hitting an ink ribbon against paper
  • noun
  • /ˈɪmpækt ˈprɪntər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : impresora de impacto
  • Unlike inkjets, an impact printer is loud and can print through carbonless copies.

Examples

  • The office still uses an impact printer for printing multi-part forms.

  • Many early ATMs were equipped with an impact printer to produce transaction receipts.

  • The impact printer is still used in some offices.

  • Many impact printers can print multi-part forms.

  • The office still uses an impact printer for printing multi-part forms.

  • Many early ATMs were equipped with an impact printer to produce transaction receipts.

  • Unlike inkjet models, an impact printer can print through carbonless copies.

Synonyms

printer
vsimpact printer
80 1.0

A machine that makes text or pictures on paper from a computer

uses an inked ribbon struck by a print head
printing machine
vsimpact printer
  • Specialized
1 2.8

A machine that puts words and pictures onto paper

uses an inked ribbon struck by a print head, not for varied material printing

How Noisy

line printer
  • Archaic
1 4.4
impact printer
  • Archaic
3.9
dot matrix printer
  • Archaic
1 5.7
inkjet
  • Specialized
6 3.3
thermal printer
  • Specialized
3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

impact + printer

The meaning is directly derivable from 'impact' (forceful contact/striking) combined with 'printer' (a printing device), i.e. a printer that prints by striking. Although somewhat technical, the modifier+noun composition follows normal English patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The term impact printer comes from how the machine prints: a small head hits an inked ribbon and makes a mark on the paper. So impact means the 'hit' and printer is the machine, meaning a printer that prints by striking the ribbon, which is why it is loud and can print through copies.