read-only memory

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Word: Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Part of Speech: Noun (used in computer science)

Definition: Read-only memory (ROM) is a type of computer memory that you can look at and read information from, but you cannot change or write new information to it. This means that once the data is saved in ROM, it stays there and is not meant to be altered.

Usage Instructions:

• You will often encounter the term "read-only memory" in discussions about computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
• When talking about computer storage, you can say something like, "The instructions for starting the computer are stored in read-only memory."

Example:

• "The video game console uses read-only memory to store the game data, so the game cannot be changed by the player."

Advanced Usage:

• In a technical context, you might hear about different types of ROM, such as PROM (programmable read-only memory) or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), which have specific functions in computer systems.

Word Variants:

• ROM: This is the common abbreviation for read-only memory.
• Writable Memory: This is the opposite of read-only memory; it refers to memory that can be changed.

Different Meanings:

• In a broader context, "read-only" can apply to documents or files that can be viewed but not edited. For example, a read-only PDF file allows you to read the content but not make changes to it.

Synonyms:

• Non-writable memory
• Permanent storage (in some contexts)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While "read-only memory" doesn’t have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, you might come across phrases like "locked down," which means that something is secured in a way that it cannot be changed, similar to how ROM works.

Summary:

Read-only memory is a crucial part of computer technology that ensures important data remains safe and unchanged.

Academic

Noun

1. (computer science) memory whose contents can be accessed and read but cannot be changed

Synonyms

• ROM
• read-only storage
• fixed storage