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Glite Dictionary
universal resource locator

universal resource locator

4.2
A web address you type into a browser to open a page or file
  • noun
  • /ˌjunɪˈvɜrsəl ˈrisɔrs ˈlɒkeɪtər/
  • Texting
translation icon : localizador uniforme de recursos
  • To access the document, you need to enter its universal resource locator into your web browser.

Examples

  • Every image on the website has its own unique universal resource locator.

  • She emailed me the universal resource locator so I could download the report.

  • What is the universal resource locator for the homepage?

  • The universal resource locator for this page is too long!

  • To access the website, simply enter the universal resource locator into your browser's address bar.

  • A universal resource locator allows users to directly access specific web pages on the internet.

  • Every document online has a unique universal resource locator to help users find it easily.

Synonyms

URL
vsuniversal resource locator
  • Texting
94 2.8

An internet address that tells where to find a web page or file

is specific to World Wide Web addresses rather than broader Internet locations
uniform resource locator
vsuniversal resource locator
  • Texting
1 3.8

An address you type or click to open a page on the internet

is the same concept but uses a different written name

Surface Forms

universal resource locator singular
universal resource locators plural
URL singular

Morphology

universal + resource + locator

The components ('locator' = something that finds/points to, 'resource' = something available, 'universal' = general/global) give a plausible compositional sense of 'something that points to a resource in a general/global way', so a learner can infer a locating/addressing function. However, the exact technical meaning 'a web address (URL)' depends on computing/Internet knowledge and the specialised sense of 'resource' in web contexts, so the intended meaning is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Universal resource locator is like a precise map address for the web: resource is the thing you want, locator is the exact address that finds it, and universal means it works the same across the whole internet. So the phrase means the 'web address' you enter in a browser to reach a specific page or file.