ˈmemərɪ n. (pl. -ies) 1
the faculty by
which things are recalled to or
kept in the
mind. 2 a
this faculty in an
individual (my memory is
beginning to fail). b one's
store of things remembered (buried
deep in my memory). 3 a
recollection or
remembrance (the memory of better times). 4 the
storage capacity of a
computer or
other electronic machinery. 5 the remembrance of a
person or
thing (his mother's memory haunted him). 6 a the
reputation of a
dead person (his memory
lives on). b in formulaic phrases used of a dead
sovereign etc. (of
blessed memory). 7 the
length of
time over which the memory or memories of
any given person or
group extends (within
living memory;
within the memory of
anyone still
working here). 8 the
act of remembering (a
deed worthy of memory). øcommit to memory
learn (a thing) so as to be
able to
recall it.
from memory
without verification in books etc. in memory of to
keep alive the remembrance
of. memory bank (or board) the memory
device of a computer etc. memory
lane (usu. prec. by down, along) an
imaginary and sentimental journey into the
past. memory mapping Computing the allocation of
peripheral devices to
appear located within the main memory of a computer. [ME f. OF memorie, memoire f. L memoria f. memor
mindful, remembering, rel. to MOURN]
