bubble memory

/ˈbʌblˌmɛm(ə)ri/

noun

A type of non-volatile computer memory that uses a thin film of magnetic material to hold small magnetized areas, known as bubbles or domains, each storing one bit of data.

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Meanings

nounbubble memory (countable and uncountable, plural bubble memories)

plural bubble memories

  1. countablehistoricaluncountablecomputingA type of non-volatile computer memory that uses a thin film of magnetic material to hold small magnetized areas, known as bubbles or domains, each storing one bit of data.

    A year ago bubble memory was a hot topic of conversation. Promoters of the bubble school boasted that this new form of storage would eventually replace mini-floppy and Winchester-disk storage because it was cheaper, faster and more reliable.

    1982 July 12, Paul Freiberger, “Bubble memory is no longer the stuff of dreams”, in InfoWorld, page 27

Origin

From being a type of computer memory that uses magnetic bubbles (magnetic domains) to store binary digits (bits).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish kuplamuisti
  • kuplamuistiTranslations
German Magnetblasenspeicher
  • MagnetblasenspeicherTranslations
Polish pamięć pęcherzykowa
  • pamięć pęcherzykowaTranslations
Turkish köpük bellek
  • köpük bellekTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

bubble memory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bubble%20memory

MLA

“bubble memory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bubble%20memory. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bubble memory,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bubble%20memory.

Source: bubble memory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.