With
all of the new technology terms that have arisen in recent
years, have you wondered what they mean or even how to
spell and punctuate them? There are a number of sites
on the Internet to assist. The following were found on
line in The American Heritage ®
Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Compare
your knowledge to this online dictionary.
blog
Function: noun
: A weblog.
Function: intr.v. blogged, blog•ging, blogs
: To write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog.
down•load
Function: tr.v. down•loadqed, down•load•ing,
down•loads
: To unload: download cargo from a transport aircraft.
: Computer Science To transfer (data or programs) from
a server or host computer to one's own computer or device.
e-mail or e•mail also E-mail
Function: noun
: A system for sending and receiving messages electronically
over a computer network, as between personal computers.
: A message or messages sent or received by such a system.
Function: tr.v. e-•mailed, e-•mail•ing,
e-•mails
: To send (a message) by such a system
In•ter•net
Function: noun
: An interconnected system of networks that connects computers
around the world via the TCP/IP protocol.
in•tra•net
Function: noun
: A privately maintained computer network that can be accessed
only by authorized persons, especially members or employees
of the organization that owns it.
on•line
or on-line
Function: adj.
: a. Under the control of a central computer, as in a manufacturing
process or an experiment. b. Connected to a computer or
computer network. c. Accessible via a computer or computer
network: an online database.
: In progress; ongoing: online editorial projects.
up•load
Function: v. Computer Science up•load•ed, up•load•ing,
up•loads
Function: v. tr.
: To transfer (data or programs), usually from a peripheral
computer or device to a central, often remote computer.
Function: v. intr.
: To transfer data or programs to a central computer.
web•log
Function: noun
: A website that displays in chronological order the postings
by one or more individuals and usually has links to comments
on specific postings.
web•mas•ter
Function: noun
: A person whose occupation is designing, developing, marketing,
or maintaining websites.
web•page or Web
page
Function: noun
: A document on the World Wide Web, consisting of an HTML
file and any related files for scripts and graphics, and
often hyperlinked to other documents on the Web.
web•site or Web
site
Function: noun
: A set of interconnected webpages, usually including a
homepage, generally located on the same server, and prepared
and maintained as a collection of information by a person,
group, or organization.
Usage Note: The transition from World Wide Web site
to Web site to website seems to have progressed as rapidly as
the technology itself. The development of website as a single
uncapitalized word mirrors the development of other technological
expressions which have tended to evolve into unhyphenated forms
as they become more familiar. Thus email has recently been gaining
ground over the forms E-mail and e-mail, especially in texts
that are more technologically oriented. Similarly, there has
been an increasing preference for closed forms like homepage,
online, and printout.
