[ˈbʌfə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a person or thing that reduces a shock or that forms a barrier between incompatible or antagonistic people or things
(e.g: family and friends can provide a buffer against stress)

- a solution which resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added to it

- a temporary memory area in which data is stored while it is being processed or transferred, especially one used while streaming video or downloading audio
(e.g: print speed is boosted by pages being formatted in a buffer while another is printing)


Phrases:
- hit the buffers

Origin:
mid 19th century: probably from obsolete buff (verb), imitative of the sound of a blow to a soft body

[ˈbʌfə], (Verb)

Definitions:
- lessen or moderate the impact of (something)
(e.g: the massage helped to buffer the strain)

- treat with a chemical buffer
(e.g: add organic matter to buffer the resulting alkalinity)

- store (data) in a buffer while it is being processed or transferred
(e.g: try buffering as much of the video stream as you can before you hit the 'play' button)


Phrases:
- hit the buffers

Origin:
mid 19th century: probably from obsolete buff (verb), imitative of the sound of a blow to a soft body

[ˈbʌfə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an elderly man who is considered to be foolishly old-fashioned, unworldly, or incompetent
(e.g: he's just a silly old buffer)


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 18th century: probably from obsolete buff (see buffer), or from dialect buff ‘stutter, splutter’ (possibly the same word). In late Middle English buffer had the sense ‘stammerer’