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dashing
dashpot
Dassera
dassie
dastardly
dastur
dasyure
DAT
data
data bank
data capture
data compression
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data

data [ dáytə, dtə ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. factual information: information, often in the form of facts or figures obtained from experiments or surveys, used as a basis for making calculations or drawing conclusions

2. information for computer processing: information, e.g. numbers, text, images, and sounds, in a form that is suitable for storage in or processing by a computer

Definition:
 

Plural of  datum


[Mid-17th century. < plural of Latin datum, neuter past participle of dare 'give, grant']

Word Usage
Data - singular or plural?

Because the meaning of data is much like that of the singular noun information, and because its Latin -a plural announces the word's plural status less plainly than a final s would, data is often treated as if it were singular. This use is extremely common, and few perceive it as wrong these days, especially given the word's connotation of a collection or single unit made up of many informational subunits. All the same, in formal or technical contexts, Our data have been assembled over a number of years would be regarded as correct, and constructions such as very little data, the data shows..., and a great deal of data would be regarded as incorrect.

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