print buffer

5.6

A part of a computer that holds information waiting to be printed

noun
/prɪnt ˈbʌfər/

Specialized

: buffer de impresión

The computer sent the document to the print buffer before it started printing.

Examples

When the print buffer is full, additional print jobs must wait until space is available.
A large print buffer can help improve the speed of network printing.
The print buffer is full.
Every time I send a document, the print buffer fills up quickly.
The computer sent the document to the print buffer before it started printing.
A large print buffer can help improve the speed of network printing.
When the print buffer is full, additional print jobs must wait until space is available.

Synonyms

buffer

vsprint buffer

Specialized

26 6.2

A place in a computer that holds data temporarily while it moves

is specific to data sent to a device that makes physical copies

buffer store

vsprint buffer

Specialized

5.8

A part of a computer's memory that holds data for a short time while it moves between devices

is for data meant for a device that produces physical copies

buffer storage

vsprint buffer

Specialized

5.1

A part of computer memory that temporarily holds data during transfer between devices

can be memory or a separate device for sending data to make physical copies

Surface Forms

print buffer singular

print buffers plural

Morphology

print + buffer

The meaning 'a temporary memory area holding data to be sent to a printer' is transparently composed from 'print' (relating to a printer) and 'buffer' (temporary storage). This noun-noun compounding follows a clear, cross-linguistic technical naming pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Print buffer comes from the idea of a buffer as a short holding place for print jobs or documents that are 'waiting' to go to the printer. So, it means the place where pages are kept until the printer is ready.