DATA


Meaning of DATA in English

da ‧ ta S1 W1 AC /ˈdeɪtə, ˈdɑːtə/ BrE AmE noun

[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: Plural of datum 'fact, piece of information' (17-21 centuries) , from Latin , past participle of dare 'to give' ]

1 . [plural,uncountable] information or facts:

The research involves collecting data from two random samples.

data on

data on pesticide use

experimental/historical/statistical etc data

detailed research data

GRAMMAR

After data , you can use a singular verb or, in formal or technical English, a plural verb:

The data is collected by trained interviewers.

These data are summarized in Table 5.

► Do not say 'datas’ or 'a data'.

2 . [uncountable] information in a form that can be stored and used, especially on a computer:

It’s possible to store a lot more data on a DVD.

data storage/transfer/retrieval

• • •

COLLOCATIONS

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + data

▪ accurate

It’s important to ensure that the data we collect is accurate.

▪ reliable

Some of the data isn’t very reliable.

▪ factual data

It’s difficult to collect factual data on these insects.

▪ historical/financial/scientific etc data

My research involves analyzing the historical data.

▪ statistical data (=based on statistics)

It is difficult to compare statistical data from different countries.

▪ empirical data (=based on tests or experience, not on ideas)

The theory is supported by empirical data.

▪ experimental data (=resulting from experiments)

the analysis of experimental data

▪ survey/census data (=produced in a survey or census)

Survey data show that people’s participation in sports rises with their level of income.

▪ raw data (=data that has been collected, but not organized or studied)

This system does no more than produce the raw data.

▪ computer data (=kept on a computer)

Digital cameras transfer pictures and sound into computer data.

▪ electronic data (=kept in an electronic form)

new ways of storing electronic data

■ verbs

▪ collect data

The survey data has been collected over the last three decades.

▪ store data

The data is stored on a computer in our central office.

▪ process data (=store and organize it using computers)

Newer computers can process data much more quickly.

▪ analyze data

The researchers then began analyzing the data.

▪ data shows something

The data shows that suicide rates among young men have increased over the last twenty years.

▪ data indicates/suggests something

Our data indicates that weather patterns are likely to get more extreme.

■ data + NOUN

▪ a data base/data bank (=a large amount of data stored in a computer system)

We can compare insurance prices from different companies on the database.

▪ data collection

Choosing the right method of data collection will be crucial to the experiment’s success.

▪ data processing (=using computers to store and organize information)

They’ve got a very efficient system for data processing.

▪ data analysis

Computers are increasingly used for data analysis.

■ phrases

▪ a set of data (=one group of data)

The three sets of data produced strikingly different results.

▪ a piece/item of data

Every single piece of data is important.

▪ a body of data (=a large amount of data)

There is an enormous body of data in support of the theory.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.