archive

ar-chive · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.

  2. 2.

    Place or store in an archive.

  3. 3.

    A place where historical documents are stored.

  4. 4.

    [computing]Store data in a compressed format or move to long-term storage.

  5. 5.

    [computing]A file containing compressed data or a backup of files.

Forms

plural: archives

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    archive footage — Old film or video recordings kept in storage.
  • •
    digital archive — An electronic collection of stored data.
  • •
    archive file — A compressed file containing other files.

Related words

See also: archives, record, repository, storage
Synonyms: collection, records, repository, storage

Etymology

From French archives, from Latin archivum, from Greek arkheion ("public records, government house"), from arkhē ("government").