peripheral

[puh-rif-er-uh l] /pəˈrɪf ər əl/
adjective, Also, peripheric (for defs 1–3).
1.
pertaining to, situated in, or constituting the periphery:
peripheral resistance on the outskirts of the battle area.
2.
concerned with relatively minor, irrelevant, or superficial aspects of the subject in question.
3.
Anatomy. near the surface or outside of; external.
4.
Computers. of or pertaining to a peripheral.
noun
5.
Computers. a device or unit that operates separately from the CPU but is connected to it, as a magnetic disk or tape unit or a printer.
Origin
1800-10; 1965-70 for def 4; < Greek peripher(ḗs) (see periphery) + -al1
Related forms
peripherally, adverb
unperipheral, adjective
unperipherally, adverb
Examples from the web for peripheral
  • Somehow the peripheral economies have to reverse this trend.
  • Loss of peripheral hearing had no influence on the test score.
  • Most of the times the slow down is all the peripheral images and useless content.
  • The resolution, implicating too many peripheral characters, is particularly unsatisfying.
  • As a cyclist, peripheral vision is your friend.
  • There may well be a glimmer of insight in some of the capital's more cynical, if peripheral, theories about him.
  • Greenberg has no patience with peripheral issues.
  • The installation, along with peripheral sculptures, remains on view in the gallery.
  • You probably don't think of an electric guitar as a computer peripheral.
  • Small mirrors on the inside of the rear roof pillars expand peripheral vision when backing.
British Dictionary definitions for peripheral

peripheral

/pəˈrɪfərəl/
adjective
1.
not relating to the most important part of something; incidental, minor, or superficial
2.
of, relating to, or of the nature of a periphery
3.
(anatomy) of, relating to, or situated near the surface of the body: a peripheral nerve
Derived Forms
peripherally, adverb
Word Origin and History for peripheral
adj.

1803, from periphery + -al (1). An earlier formation was peripherial (1670s). Related: Peripherally. As a noun, peripherals, "peripheral devices of a computer," is from 1966.

peripheral in Medicine

peripheral pe·riph·er·al (pə-rĭf'ər-əl)
adj.

  1. Related to, located in, or constituting an outer boundary or periphery.

  2. Perceived or perceiving near the outer edges of the retina.

  3. Of or relating to the surface or outer part of a body or organ; external.

  4. Of, relating to, or being part of the peripheral nervous system.

peripheral in Science
peripheral
  (pə-rĭf'ər-əl)   
Adjective  

  1. Anatomy Relating to or being the surface or outer part of a body or organ.

  2. Relating to or being part of the peripheral nervous system.


Noun  Computer Science An auxiliary device, such as a printer or modem, distinct from a computer's central processing unit and working memory, and often connected externally.
peripheral in Culture

peripheral definition


Any part that is separate from a computer's CPU, such as a printer, a keyboard, or a monitor.

peripheral in Technology
hardware
(Or "peripheral device", "device") Any part of a computer other than the CPU or working memory, i.e. disks, keyboards, monitors, mice, printers, scanners, tape drives, microphones, speakers, cameras, to list just the less exotic ones.
High speed working memory, such as RAM, ROM or, in the old days, core would not normally be referred to as peripherals. The more modern term "device" is also more general in that it is used for things such as a pseudo-tty, a RAM drive, or a network adaptor.
Some argue that, since the advent of the personal computer, the motherboard, hard disk, keyboard, mouse, and monitor are all parts of the base system, and only use the term "peripheral" for optional additional components.
(2002-09-03)