[da.ta] n pl but sing or pl in constr, often attrib [L, pl. of datum] (1646) 1: factual information (as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation "the ~ is plentiful and easily available --H. A. Gleason, Jr." "comprehensive ~ on economic growth have been published --N. H. Jacoby"
2: information output by a sensing device or organ that includes both useful and irrelevant or redundant information and must be processed to be meaningful
3: information in numerical form that can be digitally transmitted or processed usage Data leads a life of its own quite independent of datum, of which it was originally the plural. It occurs in two constructions: as a plural noun (like earnings), taking a plural verb and plural modifiers (as these, many, a few) but not cardinal numbers, and serving as a referent for plural pronouns (as they, them); and as an abstract mass noun (like information), taking a singular verb and singular modifiers (as this, much, little), and being referred to by a singular pronoun (it). Both constructions are standard. The plural construction is more common in print, evidently because the house style of several publishers mandates it.