1. A person or thing that forms a gap or barrier between two things, or reduces shock when two conflicting things come into contact
   "Salt marshes serve as a buffer between land and sea"; "Maintaining a buffer between the amount of loan and the value of the account lessens the firm's risk"
    
2. A cushion-like device that reduces shock due to an impact
   "The dock had rubber buffers to prevent damage to boats";
   - fender
    
3. One of a pair of shock-absorbing pistons at the end of a train track to help prevent trains from running off the end
   "The train slowed as it approached the buffers at the end of the line"
    
4. (computing) a part of RAM used for temporary storage of data that is waiting to be sent to a device; used to compensate for differences in the rate of flow of data between components of a computer system
   "The buffer storage helped prevent data loss during the file transfer";
   - buffer storage, buffer store
    
5. A neutral zone between two rival powers that is created in order to diminish the danger of conflict
   "The UN established a buffer zone between the two warring nations";
   - buffer zone
    
6. A power tool used to buff surfaces
   "The carpenter used an electric buffer to give the wooden table a smooth finish";
   - polisher
    
7. An implement consisting of soft material mounted on a block; used for polishing (as in manicuring)
   "He applied car wax with a buffer to achieve a high shine";
   - buff
    
8. An inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to clear the track
   "The buffer on the old steam engine was designed to push obstacles off the rails";
   - fender, cowcatcher [N. Amer], pilot [N. Amer]
    
9. [Brit, informal] (derogatory or affectionate) an amusingly eccentric, grumpy or old-fashioned old man
   "The old buffer complained about kids these days";
   - codger [informal], old codger [informal]
    
10. (chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
    "The buffer solution maintained a stable pH during the experiment"

1. Protect from impact
   "buffer the blow";
   - cushion, soften
    
2. Add a buffer (a solution)
   "buffered saline solution for the eyes"

Derived forms: buffers, buffering, buffered

Type of: chemical compound, compound, device, frame, framework, graybeard [US], greybeard [Brit, Cdn], implement, memory device, Methuselah, modify, old man, power tool, storage device, zone

Part of: auto [informal], autocar [archaic], automobile [N. Amer], buffer solution, car, engine, loco [informal], locomotive, locomotive engine, motor [Brit, informal], motorcar, railroad locomotive [N. Amer], railway locomotive [Brit, Cdn], RAM, random access memory, random memory, random-access memory, read/write memory, wheel [informal], whip [US, informal]

Encyclopedia: Buffer