compression Hear it!

compression Definition

com·pres·sion (kəm pres̸h′ən)

noun

  1. a compressing or being compressed
  2. Mech. the compressing of the air-fuel mixture in an internal-combustion engine just before ignition

Etymology: ME < OFr < L compressio

compression Synonyms

compression

n.

condensation, squeezing, confining; see concentration 1.

Compression Hacker Definition
The storing of data in a format requiring less space. In communications, data compression is helpful because it enables devices to store or transmit the same amount of data in fewer bits, thus making the transmission of the data faster. Compression falls into two main categories: lossless compression and lossy compression. With lossless compression, the original data can be restored to be an exact replica of the original, whereas with lossy compression, one accepts some quality losses in the compression/decompression steps. Lossy compression is used mainly for audio and video data, for which the loss in data quality is easily overlooked by the human user. Before data is encrypted, it can be compressed using the compression standard gzip and its compression library zlib. Encrypted data can be entirely noncompressed.

See Also: Bit and Bit Challenges.

compression Telecom Definition
A means of reducing the amount of data to be transmitted or stored. Compression is possible since there always is some amount of data redundancy or there may be a predictable flow to the data. These characteristics of a set of data or a stream of data allow the use of a sort of mathematical algorithm to represent or describe the original data in fewer bits. A matching decompression process reverses the compression process and restores the data to its original form, or an approximation thereof. Compression serves to improve the efficiency of data transmission and storage, and is especially valuable if bandwidth and memory resources are limited. Data compression techniques can include the following:
compression Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • nerve: The main aim of surgery is to relieve compression of trapped nerves.
  • cord: His injuries were probably caused by compression of the umbilical cord.

Adjective modifier

  • lossy: Dolby Digital is a multi-channel digital audio using lossy compression.
  • lossless: However, BTPC lossless compression of color graphics is significantly more costly than GIF coding with a color palette.
  • uniaxial: Consider a metal in uniaxial compression where plastic strain only takes place in the 1-2 plane.
  • mpeg-2: MPEG-2 Profiles A number of levels and profiles have been defined for MPEG-2 video compression.
  • spinal: It can usefully be applied to cases of suspected spinal cord compression which often results from spinal tumors or from slipped disks.
  • axial: Mandal, P. , Calladine, C.R. Buckling of thin cylindrical shells under axial compression.

Modifies a noun

  • stocking: Avoid taking showers while you are still instructed to wear your compression stocking ( first 72 hours ).
  • hosiery: Care should also be taken when removing compression hosiery and adhesive dressings, so as not to damage the skin.
  • bandage: A compression bandage may be helpful well beyond the period of acute swelling.
  • ratio: The use of alloy brings thoughts of benefits from being able to run higher compression ratios.
  • ignition: But you try putting diesel fuel in a spark ignition engine - or gasoline in a compression ignition engine - and see what happens!
  • algorithm: We first evaluate a number of compression algorithms for use in the driver.

Noun used with modifier

  • wavelet: Converting between TIFF and JPEG Digitizing microfiche and microfilm The PNG file format What is wavelet compression?
  • gamut: The color specifications passed to the gamut compression procedure have already been adjusted to the Screen White Point.
  • cord: It can usefully be applied to cases of suspected spinal cord compression which often results from spinal tumors or from slipped disks.
  • jpeg: JPEG compression to suit the computers I had access to in 1997 doesn't help either.
  • four-layer: The Contreet Foam dressing was replaced together with the modified four-layer compression therapy.
  • gzip: It is compressed using UNIX TAR archiving and Gzip compression.
compression Quotes

If 'compression is the first grace of style,' you have it.

—Moore, Marianne Craig