mem·o·ry
Pronounced:
/ˈmɛməri/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural mem·o·riesMeaning:
1 : the power or process of remembering what has been learned [count] ▪ He began to lose his memory as he grew older. ▪ He has an excellent memory for faces. [=he is very good at remembering faces] ▪ Those people have long memories. [=they remember things that happened long ago] ▪ She has a short memory. [=she forgets things quickly] ▪ Dad has a selective memory: he remembers the times he was right and forgets the times he was wrong. [noncount] ▪ They claim that these pills can improve (the) memory. ▪ short-term/long-term memory ▪ He committed the speech to memory. [=he memorized the speech] ▪ If memory serves (me rightly/correctly), his name is John. [=if I remember accurately, his name is John] —see also photographic memory
2 a [count] : something that is remembered ▪ We have pleasant memories of the trip. ▪ trying to repress bitter/painful memories ▪ childhood memories ▪ His name evokes memories of a happier time. ▪ That time is just a dim/faint memory to me now. b [noncount] : the things learned and kept in the mind ▪ The happiness of those times is still vivid in my memory. ▪ Her name has faded from memory. ▪ I seem to have very little memory of that time in my life. ▪ Her name has faded from my memory. [=I cannot remember her name] ▪ That tragic day has become part of our collective memory. [=it is something that we all remember] ▪ He has no memory of what happened. [=he does not remember what happened] ▪ I can't remember exactly how much it costs. Could you refresh my memory? [=remind me] ▪ The sudden shock jogged his memory and everything came flooding back into his mind.
3 [count] : the things that are remembered about a person who has died ▪ Even though he is no longer with us, his memory lives on. [=we still remember him]
4 : the period of time that a person can remember [count] —usually singular ▪ These events occurred within their memory. [=occurred during the time that they can remember] [noncount] ▪ These events occurred within living memory. ▪ The harbor froze over for the first time in (modern/recent) memory.
5 [noncount] computers a : capacity for storing information ▪ a computer with 512MB of memory ▪ The computer needs more memory. b : the part of a computer in which information is stored ▪ information stored in memory —see also random-access memory
2 a [count] : something that is remembered ▪ We have pleasant memories of the trip. ▪ trying to repress bitter/painful memories ▪ childhood memories ▪ His name evokes memories of a happier time. ▪ That time is just a dim/faint memory to me now. b [noncount] : the things learned and kept in the mind ▪ The happiness of those times is still vivid in my memory. ▪ Her name has faded from memory. ▪ I seem to have very little memory of that time in my life. ▪ Her name has faded from my memory. [=I cannot remember her name] ▪ That tragic day has become part of our collective memory. [=it is something that we all remember] ▪ He has no memory of what happened. [=he does not remember what happened] ▪ I can't remember exactly how much it costs. Could you refresh my memory? [=remind me] ▪ The sudden shock jogged his memory and everything came flooding back into his mind.
3 [count] : the things that are remembered about a person who has died ▪ Even though he is no longer with us, his memory lives on. [=we still remember him]
4 : the period of time that a person can remember [count] —usually singular ▪ These events occurred within their memory. [=occurred during the time that they can remember] [noncount] ▪ These events occurred within living memory. ▪ The harbor froze over for the first time in (modern/recent) memory.
5 [noncount] computers a : capacity for storing information ▪ a computer with 512MB of memory ▪ The computer needs more memory. b : the part of a computer in which information is stored ▪ information stored in memory —see also random-access memory
from memory
: without reading or looking at notes ▪ She delivered the speech (entirely) from memory. ▪ He played the entire piece from memory. ▪ She can recite from memory the capitals of all the states of the U.S.
in memory of or in someone's memory
: made or done to honor someone who has died ▪ The monument is in memory of the soldiers who died in battle on this field. ▪ He donated the painting in his wife's memory.
memory lane
◊If you take a stroll/trip/walk (etc.) down memory lane, you think or talk about pleasant things from the past. ▪ We took a stroll down memory lane, talking about our time at school together.