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.