archive

[ ahr-kahyv ]

noun

1. Usually archives. documents or records relating to the activities, business dealings, etc., of a person, family, corporation, association, community, or nation.
2. archives, a place where public records or other historical documents are kept.
3. any extensive record or collection of data:

   The encyclopedia is an archive of world history. The experience was sealed in the archive of her memory.

4. Digital Technology.
   1. a long-term storage device, as a disk or magnetic tape, or a computer directory or folder that contains copies of files for backup or future reference.
   2. a collection of digital data stored in this way.
   3. a computer file containing one or more compressed files.
   4. a collection of information permanently stored on the internet:

      The magazine has its entire archive online, from 1923 to the present.

verb (used with object)

, ar·chived, ar·chiv·ing.

1. to place or store in an archive:

   to vote on archiving the city's historic documents.

2. Digital Technology. to compress (computer files) and store them in a single file.

archive

/ ˈɑːkaɪv /

noun

1. a collection of records of or about an institution, family, etc
2. a place where such records are kept
3. computing data transferred to a tape or disk for long-term storage rather than frequent use

verb

1. to store (documents, data, etc) in an archive or other repository

Derived Forms

• arˈchival, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of archive¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; originally, as plural, from French archives, from the Late Latin plural noun archīva, archīa “public records,” from Greek archeîa “public records,” plural of archeîon “town hall, public office,” equivalent to archḗ “magistracy, office” + -eion suffix of location

Word History and Origins

Origin of archive¹

C17: from Late Latin archīvum, from Greek arkheion repository of official records, from arkhē government

Example Sentences

When my mom was in town she’d asked me to go with her to an archive store, and I saw pieces and silhouettes that I was not seeing anymore being created.

From Los Angeles Times

All she knew was that Fred was a prisoner of war, and had escaped before being recaptured - so BBC Breakfast took them both to the archives to find out more.

From BBC

Not to mention chronicling those journeys in detailed blog posts, which are meticulously archived online.

From Los Angeles Times

The saying — believed to be a witticism about Parker’s own romantic foibles — has been used on the show in some form at least a dozen times since 1985, according to the fan-operated J! archive.

From Los Angeles Times

A new version of the music video, featuring unseen archive footage, will also be screened during the Children in Need appeal show on BBC One on 15 November.

From BBC

Related Words

• annals