download
download
Pronunciation
Download: /ˈdaʊn.loʊd/
Syllable 1: /daʊn/
/d/: Voiced alveolar plosive
/aʊ/: Diphthong (as in "now")
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal
Syllable 2: /loʊd/
/l/: Voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/oʊ/: Diphthong (as in "boat")
/d/: Voiced alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: download
Third-person singular present: downloads
Present participle: downloading
Past simple: downloaded
Past participle: downloaded
Noun:
Singular: download
Plural: downloads
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To transfer data or a file from a remote system (such as a server or website) to a local system (such as a computer or mobile device).
Synonyms: retrieve, acquire, transfer, fetch
Antonyms: upload, send, transmi
Noun
A file or data that has been or is in the process of being transferred from a remote system to a local system.
Synonyms: file, data, acquisition
Antonyms: upload (referring to the act of uploading)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spent hours trying to download the ancient texts from the university's digital archive, but the connection was painfully slow." (Fictitious example, illustrating typical usage)
"The protagonist's quest to uncover the secret involved illegally downloading classified government documents from a secure server." (Fictitious example, illustrating common themes)
Newspapers:
"Tech giant announces new security features to protect users from malware during large file downloads." (Fictitious example, reflecting common news topics)
"Experts advise caution when clicking on suspicious links that prompt users to download unknown software." (Fictitious example, common advice)
Online Publications:
"How to Download and Install macOS Sonoma: A Step-by-Step Guide" (MacRumors)
"The latest report from the IPCC is available for download as a PDF on their official website." (United Nations)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music Streaming Service (e.g., Spotify): "Premium users can download their favorite playlists for offline listening." (Common feature description)
Video Game Platform (e.g., Steam): "Your game will begin to download shortly. Please ensure you have sufficient disk space." (On-screen message)
Movie Streaming Service (e.g., Netflix): "Want to watch on the go? Select the download icon next to your chosen title." (User interface instruction)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to download that new app everyone's talking about." (Casual conversation)
"My internet is so slow; it's taking forever to download this update." (Common complaint)
"Did you remember to download the presentation slides before the meeting?" (Workplace communication)
10 Quotes Using Download
"I travel a lot for work, so downloading books is easier than carrying them around." (Laila Rouass)
"I don't really mind people downloading my music; I also see it as a compliment." (Brendon Urie)
"The royalties from downloading are bad enough but the royalties from streaming are non-existent." (Paul Young)
"One thing I always do is listen to my iPod. I listen to whatever is kind of new on the radio, I am always downloading stuff." (Petra Kvitova)
"I understand why some kid in his bedroom in Wisconsin thinks downloading songs couldn't hurt anyone." (Rob Zombie)
"I'm not into digital marketing, downloading, or streaming - I've always been a man of the theaters." (Werner Herzog)
"We live in a connected world now. Some find that frightening. If people are downloading our music, they're listening to it." (Jeff Tweedy)
"Downloading is definitely on the rise, but not because it's free - that's probably third on the list - but because it's immediate and the selection is virtually unlimited." (Don Rose)
"I think downloading is both saving and killing the music industry at the same time." (Isaac Hanson)
"People downloading my stories from the bit torrent sites were never going to buy them anyway. It's no money out of my pocket." (Michael A. Stackpole)
Etymology
The word "download" as we use it today in computing essentially means to receive data or a file from a larger, remote computer system (like a server) onto your smaller, local device (like your own computer or phone).
Its etymology comes from combining the words "down" (meaning a movement to a lower place or state) and "load" (meaning to place something in or on, or to fill).
While "load" has been around for centuries, the specific combination "download" in the context of computers began appearing in the 1960s as a verb. One of the earliest known uses of the verb "download" was in the Wichita Falls (Texas) Times in 1962.
Initially, the concept was related to moving items, even in non-computer contexts, such as the military using "download" to mean removing weapons from an aircraft. This idea of transferring something from a larger source to a smaller one carried over into the early days of computing, where information was "downloaded" from a central system to a user's terminal or local storage.
The noun form of "download" (referring to the actual file or the act of downloading) became common slightly later, with its earliest known use in 1977 in Scientific American. So, the verb came first, describing the action, and then the noun followed, referring to the result of that action.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Download
Download a copy: To obtain a duplicate of a digital file.
Download speed: Refers to how quickly data can be transferred to a device.
Direct download: Implies a download that starts immediately without intermediaries.
Free download: Indicates no cost is associated with obtaining the file.
Secure download: Suggests the file transfer is protected against interception or corruption.
To download information: To acquire knowledge or understanding, metaphorically, often quickly.
To download the latest update: To install the newest version of software or data.
Ready for download: Indicates a file is available and prepared to be transferred.
No download required: Implies a service or content can be accessed without needing to save a file locally.
To download an idea (original): To grasp or fully comprehend a concept, as if receiving it completely.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of download from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
