databases
databases
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "databases" is: /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪsɪz/
da- /deɪt/: The vowel sound is a diphthong, a glide from /eɪ/ (as in "day"), followed by the consonant /t/.
ta- /ə/: The vowel sound is a schwa, a short, unstressed "uh" sound.
bas- /beɪs/: The vowel sound is a diphthong, a glide from /eɪ/ (as in "day"), followed by the consonant /s/.
es /ɪz/: The vowel sound is a short "ih" sound, followed by the consonant /z/.
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: database
Plural Noun: databases
Verb (transitive): to database (e.g., "to database information")
Present Participle: databasing
Past Tense: databased
Past Participle: databased
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A structured collection of data, often stored and accessed electronically from a computer system. This data is organized in a way that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated.
Synonyms: data bank, data store, information repository
Antonyms: (There are no direct antonyms for this specific technical term, as it describes a specific type of data organization.)
A software application or system used to manage, store, and retrieve information within a structured collection of data. This software acts as the interface between the user and the stored data.
Synonyms: database management system (DBMS), data platform
Antonyms: (There are no direct antonyms for this specific technical term.)
Verb
To enter, store, or organize information within a database. This action involves the systematic recording of data for later retrieval and analysis.
Synonyms: catalog, index, log, file, record
Antonyms: delete, erase, remove, expunge
Examples of Use
Books
"The database of the entire human genome is so vast that it requires powerful supercomputers to analyze and make sense of the data."
Newspapers and Online Publications
"The new legislation will require companies to take additional steps to protect the personal information stored in their databases from cyberattacks" (The New York Times, December 2023).
"In an increasingly data-driven world, companies are realizing the importance of de-risking their data and cloud migrations across their hundreds of databases" (Forbes, July 2024).
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
In the movie The Social Network, Mark Zuckerberg's initial concept for "The Facebook" is to create a digital directory that stores and manages information on Harvard's students.
"You have this whole directory of Harvard, the student body. The problem is there is no one database of the student body." (from the screenplay of The Social Network, 2010).
General Public Discourse
"My library has so many databases for academic articles, it can be hard to know which one to search first for my research paper."
"The hospital maintains databases with patient information, but each department has its own separate system, which makes it hard for doctors to share records."
"I need to database all of these customer contacts into the new system before the end of the week."
10 Famous Quotes Using Databases
"Once the business data have been centralized and integrated, the value of the database is greater than the sum of the preexisting parts." — Larry Ellison
"Your self-image is the result of all you have given your subconscious mind as a database, so regardless of your background, what you are willing to become is the only reality that counts." — Paul J. Meyer
"Reading—even Browse—an old book can yield sustenance denied by a database search." — James Gleick
"The old question 'Is it in the database?' will be replaced by 'Is it on the blockchain?'" — William Mougayar
"A National Database on Autism Research is fostering sharing of data and collaborations." — Thomas R. Insel
"Oracle's latest database, version 12c, was specifically designed for the cloud." — Larry Ellison
"We have to take all of this data we have in our countries and move it into a single, if you will, 'unified data platform' so that when we want to ask a question, we've provided that AI model with all the data it needs to understand our country." — Larry Ellison
"An easily accessible and transparent database of contract information will bring sunshine into the confusing and sometimes shadowy practice of government contracting." — Tom Coburn
"In order to have a decentralised database, you need to have security." — Vitalik Buterin
"The NICS database has holes big enough to drive a Mack truck through." — John Kennedy
Etymology
The word "database" is a modern term that was created by combining two simpler English words: "data" and "base."
"Data" comes from the Latin word datum, which is the neuter past participle of the verb dare, meaning "to give." In English, datum originally meant a single piece of information, but it is now more commonly used in its plural form "data" to refer to a collection of facts or statistics.
"Base" has a longer history, coming from the Latin word basis, which itself originated from the Greek word básis, meaning "a step, a pedestal, or a foundation." In English, "base" came to mean a foundation or a core part of something.
So, when you put them together, "database" literally means a "foundation for data." The term first appeared in the late 1950s and early 1960s within the context of early computer science and military systems. It was used to describe a new way of organizing and storing information in a centralized, foundational structure, rather than in separate, individual files. This new approach made it much easier to access and manage large amounts of information.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Databases
Database of knowledge: This phrase refers to a vast collection of information or a person's extensive mental store of facts and expertise. It's often used metaphorically to describe a well-informed individual.
To query the database: This is a technical phrase that has entered general use. It means to ask a question of a system or a collection of information in order to retrieve specific data.
To be in the database: This phrase means that a person or a piece of information has been officially recorded and stored within a system.
Building a mental database: This expression refers to the process of learning and memorizing a lot of information on a particular topic.
The company's customer database: This is a common phrase referring to the organized collection of information a business has about its clients.
A searchable database: This is a technical description used to highlight that a collection of data can be easily searched for specific entries.
A relational database: This is a technical term for a specific type of database design where data is organized into tables that relate to one another.
Updating the database: This refers to the action of adding, changing, or removing information from a database to ensure it is current and accurate.
To be a walking database: This is a descriptive phrase used to praise someone who has an exceptional memory and a deep well of knowledge on a subject.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of databases from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
