bitmap
UK[ˈbɪtmæp]US[ˈbɪtmæp]
n
A representation in which each item corresponds to one or more bits of information, especially the information in an image that represents the color of each pixel.
n
(computing) A type of memory organization or image file format in which each pixel is represented by one or more bits of data.
Morpheme Breakdown
bit
map
bit
binary digit
map
representation
Etymology
The term 'bitmap' is a modern compound word from the field of computer science, formed in the mid-20th century. Its first element, 'bit,' is a portmanteau of 'binary digit,' coined to describe the smallest unit of data. The second element, 'map,' derives from Latin 'mappa,' originally referring to a cloth chart, and evolved to mean any systematic graphical representation. Literally, a 'bitmap' is a 'map of bits,' where the spatial arrangement of binary data points directly corresponds to the visual pattern of an image on a display or in a file, logically connecting the abstract digital data to a concrete visual layout.
Analysis
Structure: bit (binary digit) + map (representation)
- bit: Origin: English (coined from 'binary digit'). Role: The fundamental unit of information in computing, representing a single binary state (0 or 1).
- map: Origin: Latin (mappa, meaning 'napkin, cloth' on which maps were drawn). Role: A representation or systematic arrangement of elements, indicating a structured layout.
Examples
The icon was saved as a simple bitmap file.
Early computer graphics relied heavily on bitmap displays.
Converting the vector logo to a bitmap caused a loss of sharpness when enlarged.