What is a database?

[Murena]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #294 "Economics Questions test (2)", question 6

......... store huge amounts of information within computer systems that were not in existence 40 years ago.

(a) Advantages
(b) Databases
(c) Assembly lines

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #294 "Economics Questions test (2)", answer 6

Databases store huge amounts of information within computer systems that were not in existence 40 years ago.

Correct answer: (b) Databases
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please explain it!

Murena

[Linda]

Hi Murena,
This definition is right from a dictionary.
Databases: "a usually large collection of data organized - especially for rapid search and retrieval (as by a computer)."
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[Yankee]

Hi Murena

Interestingly, the definition of 'database' that I find in the online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary does not contain a dash:
database
a usually large collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval (as by a computer)

You can find additional definitions here.

The word database itself is rather new to English. You might also find the etymology of the word interesting (included here under the entry for the word data):
Meaning "transmittable and storable computer information" first recorded 1946. Data processing is from 1954. Database formed 1962, from data + base.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=d&p=1

Or did you want an explanation of the sentence as a whole?
.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English