computer buff
a person who is expert in computers
TRANSLATION
computer buff = der Computerfan, der Computerfreak --- GOOGLE INDEX computer buff: approximately 38,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Rob is largely a self-taught COMPUTER BUFF, although he has taken courses in writing programs in FORTRAN and Visual Basic.
(from Careers for Computer Buffs and Other Technological Types, McGraw-Hill Publishing)
---
Steven Dowd came across in court as a harmless COMPUTER BUFF rather than a master criminal and serial software pirate.
(BBC News)
(from Careers for Computer Buffs and Other Technological Types, McGraw-Hill Publishing)
---
Steven Dowd came across in court as a harmless COMPUTER BUFF rather than a master criminal and serial software pirate.
(BBC News)
Did you
know?
computer buff
noun phrase
- a person who knows a lot about and is very interested in computers
---
WORD ORIGIN
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." This is true of some words, which can often take a long journey during their evolution. Buff, a person is who is interested in and has knowledge of a subject, is a good example of how a word can travel a great distance and in the process completely divorce itself from the original meaning.
We begin with "buffle," the French word for buffalo, which can be traced back to Middle French (16th century). This eventually led to the term "buffe leather" to describe the hide of the buffalo. From this evolved "buff," which is a term for a colour that approximates the colour of the buffalo hide.
The association with hides and skin then led to the expression "in the buff" (naked). In addition, the use of buff or suede to polish metal created the verb "buff," meaning to polish or shine something. These two meanings merely represent a detour of sorts.
Returning to the colour sense, in the 1820s New York City volunteer fire fighters began to wear buff-coloured uniforms. This eventually led to the meaning of an enthusiast with a lot of knowledge of something, like fire fighting for instance.
---
SYNONYMS
(buff)
addict, admirer, aficionado, connoisseur, devotee, expert, fan, fiend, freak, habitué, hound, lover
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"He's a real computer buff, I'm sure he can help you install that chip."
noun phrase
- a person who knows a lot about and is very interested in computers
---
WORD ORIGIN
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." This is true of some words, which can often take a long journey during their evolution. Buff, a person is who is interested in and has knowledge of a subject, is a good example of how a word can travel a great distance and in the process completely divorce itself from the original meaning.
We begin with "buffle," the French word for buffalo, which can be traced back to Middle French (16th century). This eventually led to the term "buffe leather" to describe the hide of the buffalo. From this evolved "buff," which is a term for a colour that approximates the colour of the buffalo hide.
The association with hides and skin then led to the expression "in the buff" (naked). In addition, the use of buff or suede to polish metal created the verb "buff," meaning to polish or shine something. These two meanings merely represent a detour of sorts.
Returning to the colour sense, in the 1820s New York City volunteer fire fighters began to wear buff-coloured uniforms. This eventually led to the meaning of an enthusiast with a lot of knowledge of something, like fire fighting for instance.
---
SYNONYMS
(buff)
addict, admirer, aficionado, connoisseur, devotee, expert, fan, fiend, freak, habitué, hound, lover
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:
"He's a real computer buff, I'm sure he can help you install that chip."
