data

Part of Speech

Noun (plural, but often used as singular in modern usage)

Pronunciation

/ˈdeɪ.tə/ (British), /ˈdæ.tə/ (American)

Definitions

• Facts, statistics, or pieces of information collected for reference or analysis.
• Information processed or stored by a computer.
• Quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer.

Usage Examples

• "The research team collected data from over 10,000 participants."
• "The database stores customer data securely."
• "Data analysis is an essential part of scientific research."

Etymology

From Latin "datum" (plural: "data"), meaning "something given," first used in English in the 17th century.

Synonyms

• Information
• Statistics
• Figures
• Records

Antonyms

• Misinformation
• Assumption
• Opinion

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /ˈdeɪ.tə/
• American English: /ˈdæ.tə/
• Australian English: /ˈdaː.tə/

Historical Usage

"Data" was originally used in Latin as "datum" (singular) to refer to a given fact. Over time, it became plural in scientific usage but is now often treated as a singular collective noun in general contexts.

Cultural Nuances

In scientific and formal writing, "data" is often treated as plural (e.g., "the data are clear"), while in everyday usage, it is commonly used as singular ("the data is available").

More Information

With the rise of the digital age, "data" has become one of the most frequently used terms, referring to digital information stored, processed, and analyzed for various applications, from business to artificial intelligence.