matrix printer
1
4.5
- noun
- /ˈmeɪtrɪks ˈprɪntər/
- Archaic
:
impresora de matriz
- Load a selection of common printer drivers, such as Epson FX-85 for dot-matrix printers, HP II and IV for laser printers.
- dot-matrix printer
Examples
-
I had bought a dot matrix printer with that Radio Shack desktop.
Blog text (19) -
Using a matrix printer can save money on supplies since they use less ink than laser printers.
-
But people said the same thing when the first dot matrix printers came on the market.
Blog text (28) -
On the technology front, when was the last time you heard a dot matrix printer?
Blog text (34) -
Do not use a dot-matrix printer or any printer that is not working properly.
Academic text (1998) -
My most expensive possessions were an old Apple II computer and a dot-matrix printer.
Fiction book (1997) -
This is much more akin to a dot matrix printer, by which I'm saying Spot is still way early on in his development.
-
Dot matrix printers such as Apple ImageWriter II, IBM ProPrinter, or Tandy DMP could also be used.
Academic text (1991) -
The basic paradigm for printing holds for nearly every computing operating system, and it allows print jobs to be printed successfully on devices from low-end dot matrix printers to high-end laser printers, which testifies to its flexibility.
Academic text (1997) -
The latest line of matrix printers produces clear, sharp images suitable for both text and graphics.
Synonyms
1
5.7
A printer that makes letters and pictures from small dots
A machine that prints characters and pictures by making patterns of dots
A machine that prints letters and numbers as small dots using thin wires that hit an ink ribbon
A printer that makes letters from dots by striking paper with thin metal wires
How Noisy
- Archaic
1
4.5
6
3.4
- Specialized
6
3.3
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'matrix' (an arrangement or grid) combined with 'printer' denotes a printer that produces characters/images from a grid or pattern of dots. This noun–noun formation follows a regular English compounding pattern and a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the intended technical meaning.
Etymology
Matrix printer gets its name from the way it prints: matrix means a 'grid', and the machine makes each letter as a pattern of 'dots' by hitting an ink ribbon with many small pins. Because the pins strike the ribbon onto the paper, these printers are noisy and can make carbon-copy sheets, so the name explains how they work today.