memory — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The ability of the brain to record information or impressions with the facility of recalling them later, usually at will.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   recallretention

   Examples

   Memory is a facility common to all animals.

   And they say goldfish have no memory. I guess their lives are much like mine. And the little plastic castle is a surprise every time.

2. A record of a thing or an event stored and available for later use by an organism.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   recallrecollection

   Examples

   I have no memory of that event.

   My wedding is one of my happiest memories.

   More examples (2)

   Sam and his friends will never forget the happy memories of the field trip to France.

   I know I can't hide from my memory Though day after day I've tried I keep sayin', she'll be back But today again I've lied

3. The part of a computer that stores variable executable code or data (RAM) or unalterable executable code or default data (ROM).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   This data passes from the CPU to the memory.

   My first microcomputer had 12K of memory. When I expanded to a full 64K, I thought I had all the memory I'd ever need. Hah. I know better now.

4. The time within which past events can be or are remembered.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   in recent memory

   in living memory

5. Of a material, which returns to its original shape when heated.

   Usage

   • attributive
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   memory metal

   memory plastic

6. A memorial.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   These weeds are memories of those worser hours.

7. Synonym of pelmanism (“memory card game”).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   After he saw her a few more times, Mr. Cherkasky asked Ms. Cochrane out on a date in May 2008 to Central Park. He brought along some games to break the ice, and Ms. Cochrane brought cupcakes. They found a quiet place to sit and played Memory and Yahtzee, both of which were new to Ms. Cochrane.

   One example of that would be a memory game that I originally worked on with a friend of mine at Ovrflo Media some time ago. If you aren't familiar with the game of memory, it's a matching game where you are presented with several cards in the facedown position.

8. A term of venery for a social group of elephants, normally called a herd.

   Usage

   • collective
   • Countable
   • Rare
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. something that is remembered

   Broader terms

   representationmental representationinternal representation

   Examples

   search as he would, the memory was lost

2. the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered

   Synonyms

   remembering

   Broader terms

   basic cognitive process

   Examples

   he can do it from memory

   he enjoyed remembering his father

3. the power of retaining and recalling past experience

   Synonyms

   retentionretentivenessretentivity

   Broader terms

   facultymental facultymodule

   Examples

   he had a good memory when he was younger

4. an electronic memory device

   Synonyms

   computer memorystoragecomputer storagestorememory board

   Broader terms

   memory devicestorage devicehardwarecomputer hardware

   Examples

   a memory and the CPU form the central part of a computer to which peripherals are attached

5. the area of cognitive psychology that studies memory processes

   Broader terms

   cognitive psychology

   Examples

   he taught a graduate course on learning and memory