Buffers

an apparatus at the end of a railroad car, railroad track, etc., for absorbing shock during coupling, collisions, etc.
any device, material, or apparatus used as a shield, cushion, or bumper, especially on machinery.
any intermediate or intervening shield or device reducing the danger of interaction between two machines, chemicals, electronic components, etc.
a person or thing that shields and protects against annoyance, harm, hostile forces, etc., or that lessens the impact of a shock or reversal.
any reserve moneys, negotiable securities, legal procedures, etc., that protect a person, organization, or country against financial ruin.
buffer state.
Ecology. an animal population that becomes the prey of a predator that usually feeds on a different species.
Computers. a storage device for temporarily holding data until the computer is ready to receive or process the data, as when a receiving unit has an operating speed lower than that of the unit feeding data to it.
Electronics. a circuit with a single output activated by one or more of several inputs.
Chemistry.

any substance or mixture of compounds that, added to a solution, is capable of neutralizing both acids and bases without appreciably changing the original acidity or alkalinity of the solution.
Also called buffer solution. a solution containing such a substance.

Chemistry. to treat with a buffer.
to cushion, shield, or protect.
to lessen the adverse effect of; ease:
The drug buffered his pain.
a device for polishing or buffing, as a buff stick or buff wheel.
a worker who uses such a device.
a foolish or incompetent person.
a fellow; man.
a chief boatswain’s mate in the British navy.
Contemporary Examples

Is the Doctor-Patient Relationship Turning Into a Business Partnership? Russell Saunders April 10, 2014
Inside Seal Team Six by Don Mann Excerpt Don Mann December 3, 2011

Historical Examples

Mountain Meditations L. Lind-af-Hageby
The Ancient East D. G. Hogarh
The Plattner Story and Others H. G. Wells
The Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt James W. Barrett
DP Arthur Dekker Savage
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98, 1890.05.10 Various
Every-day Science: Volume VII. The Conquest of Time and Space Henry Smith Williams
How to Become an Engineer Frank W. Doughty

noun
one of a pair of spring-loaded steel pads attached at both ends of railway vehicles and at the end of a railway track to reduce shock due to contact
a person or thing that lessens shock or protects from damaging impact, circumstances, etc
(chem)

an ionic compound, usually a salt of a weak acid or base, added to a solution to resist changes in its acidity or alkalinity and thus stabilize its pH
Also called buffer solution. a solution containing such a compound

(computing) a memory device for temporarily storing data
(electronics) an isolating circuit used to minimize the reaction between a driving and a driven circuit
short for buffer state
(informal) hit the buffers, to finish or be stopped, esp unexpectedly
verb (transitive)
to insulate against or protect from shock; cushion
(chem) to add a buffer to (a solution)
noun
any device used to shine, polish, etc; buff
a person who uses such a device
noun
(Brit, informal, offensive) a stupid or bumbling man (esp in the phrase old buffer)
n.
v.
buffer
(bŭf’ər)

Note: Buffers are often used in medications designed to decrease acidity in the stomach.