big data

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Data on a very large scale, such that it can only be gathered or processed with computers, especially with reference to its potential to allow for new breakthroughs or understanding in a particular field of study.
name
  1. Alternative letter-case form of big data.

Pronunciation

/ˌbɪɡ ˈdeɪtə/ /-ˈdætə/ /-ˈdɑːtə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-big data.wav

Word forms

big data

Etymology

In 2000, economist Francis X. Diebold published the first version of a paper titled “Big Data Dynamic Factor Models for Macroeconomic Measurement and Forecasting.” After being interviewed on his use of the term “big data” by NYTimes.com blogger Steve Lohr, Diebold undertook his own investigation, in which he concluded: “The term ‘Big Data,’ which spans computer science and statistics/econometrics, probably originated in the lunch-table conversations at Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) in the mid 1990s, in which John Mashey figured prominently.”

This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.