Data

Definition

Data is a noun that refers to facts, figures, or information that is collected for reference, analysis, or computation. It can be used in a singular or plural sense and encompasses any measurable, quantifiable information used to inform decisions, analyze trends, or conduct scientific research.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdeɪtə/ or /ˈdætə/
• Respelling: DAY-tuh or DAT-uh

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdeɪtə/
• Respelling: DAY-tuh

Etymology

The word "data" comes from the Latin "datum," which means "something given." The plural form "data" initially referred to facts or statistics collected for analysis, and it has since evolved to represent any collection of information, especially in digital or scientific contexts.

Derivatives

• Database (noun)
• Dataset (noun)
• Data-driven (adjective)
• Data point (noun)
• Metadata (noun)

Synonyms

• Information
• Statistics
• Figures

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The term "data" is widely used in scientific, technological, and business contexts to refer to collected information that is used for analysis or decision-making, such as "The experiment provided valuable data on climate patterns."

Related Terms

• Information: Data that is processed or structured to have meaning.
• Big data: Large volumes of complex data analyzed computationally to reveal patterns or trends.
• Analytics: The process of examining data to make informed decisions or predictions.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• Facts or statistics used for analysis: Refers to raw information collected for examination or computation.
  • Example: "The survey provided extensive data on consumer preferences."
• Information in digital or electronic form: Used in computing and technology to denote any stored information, often in binary or structured formats.
  • Example: "The server holds terabytes of data used by the application."
• Measurements or observations collected during scientific research: Refers to quantifiable evidence gathered in experiments, often for validating hypotheses.
  • Example: "The study analyzed data from multiple environmental sensors."