Definition of PERIPHERAL

peripheral

Meanings

Plural: peripherals

Noun

  • (computer science) electronic equipment connected by cable to the CPU of a computer
    • "disk drives and printers are important peripherals"
  • A peripheral device.
  • Peripheral vision.

Adjective

  • on or near an edge or constituting an outer boundary; the outer area
    • "Russia's peripheral provinces"
    • "peripheral suburbs"

Adjective Satellite

  • related to the key issue but not of central importance
    • "a peripheral interest"
    • "energy is far from a peripheral issue in the economy"
    • "peripheral issues"

Adj

  • On the periphery or boundary.
  • Beside the point.
  • Unimportant.
  • Auxiliary.
  • Related to or located in the peripheral nervous system.

Origin / Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *per-der.
Ancient Greek περί (perí)
Ancient Greek περῐ- (perĭ-)
Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-
Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti
Proto-Hellenic *pʰérō
Ancient Greek φέρω (phérō)
Ancient Greek περιφέρω (periphérō)
Proto-Indo-European *-os
Proto-Indo-European *-ēs
Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs)
Ancient Greek περιφερής (peripherḗs)
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-ih₂der.
Ancient Greek -ια (-ia)
Ancient Greek περιφέρεια (periphéreia)bor.
Latin peripheriabor.
Middle French peripheriebor.
English periphery
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālisbor.
Old French -albor.
Latin -ālis
Old French -elbor.
Latin -ālisbor.
Middle English -al
English -al
English peripheral
From peripher(y) + -al.

Synonyms

computer peripheral, peripheral device

Antonyms

central

Scrabble Score: 17

peripheral is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
peripheral is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
peripheral is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

peripheral is a valid Words With Friends word