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peripheral device

peripheral device

1 4.7
An electronic machine like a printer that connects to a computer to let you enter, see or save information
  • noun
  • /pəˈrɪfərəl dɪˈvaɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : dispositivo periférico
  • He purchased several peripheral devices to improve his gaming experience, including a headset and a joystick.
  • other peripheral devices

Examples

  • And they can even track not just the headset itself, but also peripheral devices or even multiple people with headsets and peripherals.

  • 99% of peripheral devices are wireless, and if for some reason you actually need to connect something with a cable, that's what the data-capable headphone jack and dock connector are for.

    Blog text (13)
  • A range of peripheral devices can support music applications in the curriculum.

    Academic text (2006)
  • A peripheral device, called the Mimic, displays a print translation of the braille on a small screen.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Accepted materials included hard drives, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, terminals, modems, software, and other peripheral devices.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The emerging application for multifunction peripheral devices, having the ability to process complex images formerly handled by large host-based systems, has been enabled through this technology.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash memory, equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIGS. 1-2.

    Blog text (19)
  • The small size also allows it to be readily integrated on-chip with other functions (a microcontroller, for example), and as such, it is well suited for incorporation into many different kinds of computer storage peripheral devices.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The processes of the illustrative embodiments may be performed by processor 206 using computer-implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory such as, for example, main memory 208, read-only memory 224, or in one or more peripheral devices.

    Blog text (19)
  • Many peripheral devices, like printers and scanners, are essential for enhancing computer functionality.

Synonyms

peripheral
vsperipheral device
  • Specialized
2 5.5

A device like a keyboard or printer that connects to a computer

is an external device that connects to add input output or storage
computer accessory
vsperipheral device
1 3.1

A device you add to a computer to make it work better or be easier to use

is specifically an external electronic device adding input output or storage
computer peripheral
vsperipheral device
  • Specialized
3.0

A device that connects to a computer, like a mouse or printer, but is not inside it

is an external device that connects to add input output or storage
I/O device
vsperipheral device
  • Specialized
3.7

A machine like a keyboard or printer that moves information between a computer and a user

is broader and also includes storage and other added functions
IO device
vsperipheral device
  • Specialized
4.6

A machine like a keyboard or monitor that sends data into and out of a computer

is broader and also includes storage and other added functions

How Essential

central processing unit
  • Specialized
1 4.2
internal
9 4.6
peripheral device
  • Specialized
1 4.7
add-on
22 3.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

peripheral + device

The meaning 'an external device connected to the main computer' is directly and compositionally derived from 'peripheral' (external, at the margins) + 'device' (a manufactured instrument). This modifier–head noun combination follows regular English compounding and has clear parallels in other languages (e.g. Spanish 'dispositivo periférico'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will most likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Peripheral device comes from the simple image of tools sitting at the edge of the main computer; peripheral means 'at the edge' and device means a tool. So, a peripheral device is a tool that connects to the computer from the outside to give 'extra' functions.