showing, storing, or sending information as numbers—especially the digits 0 and 1—by using computers or electronic devices
Maria checked the time on her new digital watch before leaving the house.
The teacher asked the students to submit a digital copy of their essays.
✦ From Latin digitus “finger, toe; number” + ‑al, because early computers encoded information in numerical digits 0 and 1.
relating to a finger or toe
The doctor tested the patient's digital nerves for sensation.
A fracture in the digital bones can make typing painful.
✦ From Latin digitus “finger, toe.” The anatomical sense dates to the 17th century.
using electronic equipment, especially computers, to store, send, or process information.
You can now read the newspaper digitally on your phone.
The store sells books both physically and digitally.
✦ From English digital + -ly (adverb-forming suffix). 'Digital' originates from Latin digitus (“finger”), referring first to numerical digits, then to electronic systems mimicking discrete finger-counting.
to convert analogue information, such as paper documents or photographs, into digital form using a scanner or computer.
The librarian digitized the rare manuscripts so they could be shared online.
Small businesses often digitize their paper receipts to save space.
✦ Formed in the 1940s from digit (finger or numeral) + -ize, analogous to computerize, as computing technology enabled conversion of analogue data to numerical (digital) format.
The librarian digitised the rare manuscripts so they could be shared online.
Small businesses often digitise their paper receipts to save space.
✦ Formed in the 1940s from digit (finger or numeral) + -ise, analogous to computerise, as computing technology enabled conversion of analogue data to numerical (digital) format.
