data
[ dey-tuh, dat-uh, dah-tuh ]
/ ˈdeɪ tə, ˈdæt ə, ˈdɑ tə /
noun
a plural of datum.
(used with a plural verb)
individual facts, statistics, or items of information: These data represent the results of our analyses. Data are entered by terminal for immediate processing by the computer.
(used with a singular verb)
a body of facts; information: Additional data is available from the president of the firm.
usage note for data
Data is a plural of
datum, which is originally a Latin noun meaning “something given.” Today,
data is used in English both as a plural noun meaning “facts or pieces of information” (
These data are described more fully elsewhere ) and as a singular mass noun meaning “information”:
Not much data is available on flood control in Brazil. It is almost always treated as a plural in scientific and academic writing. In other types of writing it is either singular or plural. The singular
datum meaning “a piece of information” is now rare in all types of writing. In surveying and civil engineering, where
datum has specialized senses, the plural form is
datums.
OTHER WORDS FROM data
pre·da·ta, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH data
data datum (see usage note at the current entry)Words nearby data
Definition for data (2 of 2)
datum
[ dey-tuh m, dat-uh m, dah-tuh m ]
/ ˈdeɪ təm, ˈdæt əm, ˈdɑ təm /
noun, plural da·ta [dey-tuh, dat-uh, dah-tuh] /ˈdeɪ tə, ˈdæt ə, ˈdɑ tə/ for 1–3, da·tums for 4, 5.
a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; an item of data.
Philosophy.
- any fact assumed to be a matter of direct observation.
- any proposition assumed or given, from which conclusions may be drawn.
Also called sense datum. Epistemology.
the object of knowledge as presented to the mind.
Compare ideatum.
Surveying, Civil Engineering.
any level surface, line, or point used as a reference in measuring elevations.
Surveying.
a basis for horizontal control surveys, consisting of the longitude and latitude of a certain point, the azimuth of a certain line from this point, and two constants used in defining the terrestrial spheroid.
Origin of datum
1640–50; < Latin: a thing given, neuter past participle of
dare to give
usage note for datum
See
data.
Example sentences from the Web for data
British Dictionary definitions for data (1 of 2)
data
/ (ˈdeɪtə, ˈdɑːtə) /
pl n
a series of observations, measurements, or facts; information
Also called: information computing
the information operated on by a computer program
Word Origin for data
C17: from Latin, literally: (things) given, from
dare to give
usage for data
Although now often used as a singular noun,
data is properly a plural
British Dictionary definitions for data (2 of 2)
datum
/ (ˈdeɪtəm, ˈdɑːtəm) /
noun plural -ta (-tə)
a single piece of information; fact
a proposition taken for granted, often in order to construct some theoretical framework upon it; a given
See also sense datum
Word Origin for datum
C17: from Latin: something given; see
data