demo

[dem-oh] /ˈdɛm oʊ/
noun, plural demos.
1.
demonstration (defs 4, 6).
2.
demonstrator (def 5).
3.
a recording of a new song or of one performed by an unknown singer or singing group, distributed to disc jockeys, recording companies, etc., to demonstrate the merits of the song or performer.
4.
demolition (def 1):
He does flooring and demo for a living.
verb (used with object), demoed, demoing.
5.
to try out or exhibit the use of (a product, process, or the like):
You can demo the game without downloading or buying it.
6.
to record (a song) to demonstrate the merits of the song or performer.
Origin
1935-40; by shortening; see -o

Demo

[dem-oh] /ˈdɛm oʊ/
noun, plural Demos. Informal.
1.
a member of the Democratic Party; Democrat.
Origin
1785-95, Americanism

demo-

1.
a combining form occurring in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “people” (democratic); on this model, used in the formation of compound words (demography).
Origin
< Greek dēmo-, combining form of dêmos
British Dictionary definitions for demo

demo

/ˈdɛməʊ/
noun (informal) (pl) -os
1.
short for demonstration (sense 4)
2.
  1. a demonstration record or tape, used for audition purposes
  2. a demonstration of a prototype system
3.
(US) short for demonstrator (sense 3)

demo-

combining form
1.
indicating people or population: demography
Word Origin
from Greek dēmos
Word Origin and History for demo
n.

short for demonstration (tape, disc, etc.). Music recording given out for promotional purposes, 1963. The word was used earlier to mean "a public political demonstration" (1936).

Slang definitions & phrases for demo

Demo

adjective

: the Dem boss/ Demo congressmen

noun

A Democrat (first form 1840+, second 1793+)


demo

modifier

: Let's try the demo disk

noun
  1. A record or tape made to demonstrate the abilities of musicians, the quality of a song, etc: Mark's got a good demo to pitch the new song with (1950s+)
  2. A computer disk or tape cassette made to demonstrate the abilities of a particular program: I tried out their software demo before I bought their package (1980s+)
  3. A demonstration of protest or other conviction, esp by a large crowd with banners, etc: a no-nukes demo (1936+)

demo in Technology


/de'moh/ 1. A demonstration of a product, often of an early version or prototype. A demo is a far more effective way of inducing bugs to manifest themselves than any number of test runs, especially when important people are watching.
2. demo version.
3. A program written to demonstrate the programmer's coding ability and/or the power of the computer it runs on. Such demos are nearly always written in machine code and traditionally feature scrolling text about the author, his friends, his code and anything else he fancies and animated graphics.
[Jargon File]
(1994-11-04)

Related Abbreviations for demo

demo

demonstration