input
UK[ˈɪnpʊt]US[ˈɪnpʊt]
n
Something that is put in, such as energy, money, or information, into a system or process.
n
The place or point where this enters a system.
v
To put data into a computer.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
put
in
in
put
place
Etymology
The word 'input' is a modern English compound, formed by directly combining the common preposition 'in' with the verb 'put'. Its formation follows a transparent and logical pattern in English, where directional prefixes are attached to action verbs to create new terms (e.g., output, intake, upset). While 'put' itself has obscure ancient roots, potentially from a Germanic verb for thrusting, the compound 'input' is a 20th-century creation, specifically coined in the contexts of computing, electronics, and systems theory. It elegantly captures the abstract concept of feeding data, energy, or resources into a process by using the literal, physical sense of "putting in."
Analysis
Structure: in (in) + put (place)
- in: A preposition of Old English origin, from Proto-Germanic in, meaning "in, into". In this compound, it functions as a prefix indicating inward direction or location.
- put: A verb of late Old English origin (putian, potian "to push, thrust"), of uncertain ultimate origin, possibly from a Germanic base meaning "to stick out" or related to "butt". In this compound, it functions as the core verb meaning "to place, set".
Examples
The user must provide a valid input for the program to run.
Check all the input cables to ensure they are connected properly.
She input the customer's details into the database.