digital

[ dij-i-tl ]

adjective

1. displaying a readout in numerical digits rather than by a pointer or hands on a dial:

   a digital speedometer;

   a digital watch.

2. of, relating to, or using numerical calculations.
3. of, relating to, or using data in the form of numerical digits:

   a digital image;

   digital devices.

4. involving or using numerical digits expressed in a scale of notation, usually in the binary system, to represent discretely all variables occurring in a problem.
5. available in electronic form; readable and manipulable by computer:

   Scan these two pages so you'll have them as a digital document.

6. pertaining to, noting, or making use of computers and computerized technologies, including the internet:

   We are living in an increasingly digital world.

   Digital activism uses social media to achieve political reform.

   His blog is a great example of digital journalism.

   Digital technology has revolutionized the music industry.

7. of or relating to a digit or finger.
8. resembling a digit or finger.
9. manipulated with a finger or the fingertips:

   a digital switch.

10. having fingers or digitlike parts.

noun

1. one of the keys or finger levers of keyboard instruments.

digital

/ ˈdɪdʒɪtəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, resembling, or possessing a digit or digits
2. performed with the fingers
3. representing data as a series of numerical values
4. displaying information as numbers rather than by a pointer moving over a dial

   digital read-out

   a digital voltmeter

5. electronics responding to discrete values of input voltage and producing discrete output voltage levels, as in a logic circuit

   digital circuit

6. a less common word for digitate

noun

1. music one of the keys on the manuals of an organ or on a piano, harpsichord, etc

digital

/ dĭj′ĭ-tl /

1. Anatomy.
   Relating to or resembling a digit, especially a finger.
2. Computer Science.
   Representing or operating on data or information in numerical form. A digital clock uses a series of changing digits to represent time at discrete intervals, for example, every second. Modern computers rely on digital processing techniques, in which both data and the instructions for manipulating data are represented as binary numbers.
3. Computer Science.
   Compare analogSee also logic gate

Derived Forms

• ˈdigitally, adverb

Other Words From

• digit·al·ly adverb
• inter·digi·tal adjective
• inter·digi·tal·ly adverb
• post·digi·tal adjective
• pre·digi·tal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of digital¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin digitālis, equivalent to digit(us) ( digit ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Over 100 Australian academics have criticised the ban as "too blunt an instrument" and argued that it goes against UN advice which calls on governments to ensure young people have “safe access” to digital environments.

From BBC

Sun, the winner, has spent millions on traditional and digital art.

From New York Times

David McCabe is a Times reporter who covers the complex legal and policy issues created by the digital economy and new technologies.

From New York Times

“We need a new approach to our digital interactions that recognizes the fundamental rights of individuals to safeguard their bodily data, an issue that speaks directly to human autonomy and dignity,” Keserű said.

From Los Angeles Times

This computationally intensive method improves the contrast and resolution of digital images captured in optical microscopes like widefield, confocal or transmission microscopes.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• data processor
• desktop computer
• PC
• personal computer