memory
HighNeutral, formal, informal, technical
Definition
Meaning
the faculty of the mind by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved; a specific recollection of a past event or experience.
The computer's capacity for storing data and programs; the component where this storage occurs; the reputation or record of a person, institution, or thing after death; a physical device for storing computer data.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans concrete (computer hardware) and abstract (mental faculty) meanings, often used metaphorically. It can refer to a single recollection ('a memory'), the general faculty ('my memory'), or a commemorative sentiment ('in memory of').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Collocational preferences (e.g., 'memory stick' vs 'flash drive') are more related to brand/product naming than dialect.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a memory of [V+ing/NP]bring back memories of [NP]slip one's memoryin memory of [NP]commit something to memoryjog someone's memoryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in living memory”
- “a memory like a sieve”
- “a trip down memory lane”
- “etched in one's memory”
- “a lapse of memory”
- “if memory serves”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market or brand memory; 'The product failed to stay in the consumer's memory.'
Academic
Used in psychology, neuroscience, computing, and history; 'The study examined episodic memory consolidation.'
Everyday
Recalling personal events or facts; 'I have a clear memory of my first day at school.'
Technical
In computing: RAM, ROM, cache memory, memory allocation, memory leak.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable. The verb form is 'memorise/memorize' or 'remember'.
American English
- Not applicable. The verb form is 'memorize' or 'remember'.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. The adverbial form is 'memorably'.
American English
- Not applicable. The adverbial form is 'memorably'.
adjective
British English
- memory card
- memory foam mattress
- memory stick
American English
- memory chip
- memory foam pillow
- memory module
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a good memory for faces.
- This photo brings back happy memories.
- My computer doesn't have enough memory to run this program.
- He has a vague memory of visiting London as a child.
- The collective memory of the nation was shaped by those events.
- Her research focuses on the mechanisms of spatial memory in rodents.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MEMORY as a MEmorial in your MInd, a place where you keep a RECORD.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEMORY IS A STORAGE CONTAINER (e.g., 'a treasure trove of memories', 'memory bank'). MEMORY IS A PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE (e.g., 'memory lane', 'distant memories').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'мемория' (not a common word). The direct translation is 'память', which also means 'computer RAM' and 'commemoration'.
- Avoid translating 'in memory of' as 'в памяти' – use 'в память о (+prepositional case)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'remind' incorrectly for 'remember' ('He reminded me of our trip' vs 'I remembered our trip').
- Using uncountable 'memory' for a countable instance ('I have a good memory of it', not 'I have good memory of it').
Practice
Quiz
In a computing context, what does 'memory' most specifically refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Memory' is the general faculty or a specific recollection. 'Remembrance' is often more formal and can imply a conscious act of remembering, especially in commemorative contexts.
It can be both. Uncountable: 'I have a poor memory.' Countable: 'I have fond memories of that summer.'
The direct verb is 'to memorize' (US) / 'to memorise' (UK), meaning to commit something to memory. The more common everyday verb is 'to remember'.
It refers to a period within the lifetime of people still alive, used for significant events. E.g., 'The coldest winter in living memory.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Psychology Basics
B2 · 50 words · Fundamental concepts in human psychology.