data
This term carries a clinical, objective connotation, evoking images of spreadsheets, databases, and empirical evidence. It is the standard terminology in scientific, technical, and corporate environments to describe raw inputs before they have been interpreted into a conclusion or a narrative.
Countable in formal Latinate usage (datum/data); uncountable in common usage.
💬Casual Conversation
I'm totally tapped out. My data is gone and I can't load the spreadsheet.
Just use the library wifi instead of burning through your plan.
Meanings
Facts, figures, or other information collected together for reference or analysis, or information processed or stored by a computer.
"The researchers analyzed the data to identify a trend in climate change."
Examples
The scientists gathered data to support their hypothesis.
Collocations & Compounds
raw data
information that has not been processed
The scientists started by cleaning the raw data.
data breach
unauthorized access to confidential information
The company suffered a massive data breach last year.
data mining
the process of discovering patterns in large datasets
Data mining helps retailers predict consumer behavior.
empirical data
information acquired by means of observation or experimentation
The theory is supported by strong empirical data.
data point
a single discrete unit of information
Each dot on the graph represents a specific data point.
Phrasal Verbs
data mine
extract patterns from large datasets
The marketing team decided to data mine the customer logs.
Idioms & Sayings
data dump
the act of transferring a large amount of information from one system to another or providing a massive amount of detail at once
The engineer performed a full data dump to ensure the logs were preserved before the system reboot.
big data
extremely large data sets that may be analyzed computationally to reveal patterns and trends
The marketing firm uses big data to predict consumer behavior across different demographics.