Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a plural of datum.
- (used with a plural verb) individual facts, statistics, or items of information: These data represent the results of our analyses. Data are entered by terminal for immediate processing by the computer.
- (used with a singular verb) a body of facts; information: Additional data is available from the president of the firm.
pl n
- a series of observations, measurements, or facts; information
- Also called: information computing the information operated on by a computer program
1640s, plural of datum, from Latin datum “(thing) given,” neuter past participle of dare “to give” (see date (n.1)). Meaning “transmittable and storable computer information” first recorded 1946. Data processing is from 1954.