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Basic Computer Term Glossary English Term

(Microsoft) Access (makes databases) access (V, enter or open a file or account) active (Adj., what's on the screen now) active window (the front window) adaptor (general) add-on/plug-in (N, small software upgrade) administrator (of a computer network) address bar (type URL into browser here) alert (N, computer warns about Sth.)
Alt Key (on left & right of spacebar, accesses menus)

Arabic
*

English Term
counterfeit software (pirated) / CPU (Central Processing Unit) (the box!) cursor / pointer (where the mouse points)
cursor (flashing insertion point in word processing)

Arabic

cut (V, Ctrl-X) (take out selection for pasting) / database (organizes records and files)
default (N, the original setting, automatically chosen)

defective (Adj.) delete (sth.) Alt DVD (digital video disc) * DVD-R (blank DVD) DVD-RW (rewritable DVD) ( the) desktop desktop computer desktop photo/pattern (image on dsktp) desktop publishing (make a publication) dial-up (internet connection) /
dialog box (computer asks you a question in these)
directory (system to organize files, i.e. a list of files in the C Drive)

Apple Computer (makes Macs) application (computer program) arrow keys (up, down, L, R on keyboard) attachment (file sent with e-mail msg) back (web browser button returns to prev.) Backspace key (go back/erase one space)
BCC(Blind Carbon Copy,send to/dont show these addresses)

bloatware (pre-installed trial software) bold (thicker, darker font style) bookmark / favorite (link to frequented site) broadband (internet connection) broken built-in (internal) burn (a CD-R) (record data onto a CD) button byte cable (a cord which connects electronics) cable modem (paired with cable TV) cancel (a command) Caps Lock (MAKES ALL UPPER-CASE) case-sensitive
CC (Carbon Copy, send a copy to addresses in this box)

/ document (N, file) double-click (V) download (V, from the net to your comp) / download (N, the process of downloading) draft (N, rough copy of a document) drag (V, hold down mouse btn. & move)
- -

driver (lets you use peripheral) / / * *

drop-down menu (most menus are this kind) * e-mail (electronic mail) ear buds (small in-ear headphones) encryption Enter/Return key (confirm/choose, open/start) error error message Escape (Esc) key ethernet (network connection cable) ( Microsoft) Excel (makes spreadsheets) exit (an application) external hard drive favorite / bookmark (link to frequented site) file extension (i.e. .doc, .ext, .jpg, .mp3) file format
floppy disk (3.5" or 5.5" external storage device, up to 2MB)

CD drive CD-R (blank CD) CD-RW (rewritable CD) cell (of a spreadsheet) click (N) click (V) clip art (free stock images to add to files) clipboard (where cut/copied items go) close (a window or file) codec (lets you open a file format) column (of a spreadsheet) command (N) (tell computer to do Sth.) compact disc (CD) compose (V. write an e-mail or text file) computer connect to the internet (V) connection speed
Control Key (Ctrl., on lower left & right, used in shortcuts)

folder font format (V, change the format of Sth.) / forward (browser button, goes ahead 1pg.) forward (send an e-mail to another person) frozen screen function keys (F1-F12) gigabyte (GB) (1,024 kilobytes) * * hack (V) hacker (N) hard drive ( computer) hardware headphones headset
highlight (V, select, click & drag cursor over text, click icon.)

Control-Alt-Delete (3-key combination) control panel cookie (small file adds function to website)
copy (V, Ctrl-C) (make another of selection)

copyright copyright infringement cord (connects things)

history (shows which websites you have visited)

save as (save as a new file w/ new name or format)

( ) / / / * /

hits (in search results) hit/press/push (V, a button or key)


hold (V, keep a key or button pressed down)

scan (N, a file produced by a scanner) / scan (V, copy a document w/ scanner) scanner screen (of the monitor) screen saver (monitor image or video) scroll (V, move screen up/down/L/R) scroll bar scroll wheel (between the mouse buttons)
search bar (type search term in browser here)

home page (default page for web browser)


home row keys (where your fingers return to when typing)
hunt & peck (typing with only one or two fingers & looking at the keys)

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) icon (small picture representing app/file) identity theft (users personal info stolen) IM (instant messaging, online chat) inactive (window, application, etc.) inbox (where new e-mail arrives) inkjet printer (uses ink cartridges)
input language (keyboard layout & typing language)

search engine search results


select (V, highlight, click & drag cursor over text, click icon.)

select all (in Edit Menu, highlights everything)

setting
Shift key (UPPER CASE when typing) /
shortcut (icon opens file or ap from an easier location)

install (V) internal VS. external hardware (the) internet Internet Explorer intranet (a local network) ISP (Internet Service Provider) IT (Information Technology) italicize (V), in italics (Adj.) (slantedfont) iTunes (music & movie player by Apple) jack (port, where things get plugged in) key (one single button on a keyboard) keyboard
keyboard shortcut (key combination for faster commands)

social networking software space bar (adds a space when typing) spam (bulk e-mail) speakers spell-check (V, show spelling errors) * spreadsheet start (V, open an application)

Start Menu
stop (web button stops loading a site/pg.) surf the net (explore the internet)
switch(N., like a power button but turned on/off not pressed) switch between (V., change between 2 or more of Sth.)

kilobyte (KB) (1,024 bytes) language bar (for input language) laptop (computer) laser printer link (N, takes you to a new URL) Linux Operating System local network (connects only some) log in (V, enter your account) log-in (N, your user name) log out (V, sign out of/leave your account) lower case (Adj., in small letters) Mac (computer running Mac OS) Macintosh Operating System margins (borders of a page) maximize (window resized to full screen) megabyte (MB) memory (disk space) memory stick/flash drive menu menu bar (contains names of menus) microphone Microsoft (makes Windows, Office) Microsoft Office (software suite) minimize (shrink window to Task Bar) modem monitor mouse mouse pad Mozilla Firefox MP3 (condensed sound file format) multimedia (incl. sound, image, video files) My Computer (find storage media) * * * * * *

tab (in web browser)


Task Bar (bottom of screen, shows open aps, time, language)

technical difficulties (Sth. isnt working)


template (N, standarized/formatted file example/starting point)

terabyte (TB) (1,024 gigabytes) text (words)


text box (enter text here, i.e. address bar, search bar, form fields) text file (file of text, created/opened/edited by word processor)

thumbnail (small picture used as an icon) title bar (contains app/file/wind name)
toggle (V, change/start/stop betw. aps & functions quickly)

toner (ink in a laser printer) touchpad (replaces the mouse on laptops) trash (for deleted files in Mac) turn on (V) type underline (line under font style) undo (take away previous command) unique visitor (to a website) Universal Serial Bus (USB) upgrade (N, new version) upgrade (V, to install a new version) upload (from your computer to net) UPPER CASE (Adj. IN CAPITAL LETTERS)
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)/Web Address

user name (name your account uses) version (edition) VPN (virtual private network) ( computer) virus volume control

My Documents (where your files go) (the) net (the internet) network (general) notebook (computer)
Num Lock (numeric keypad= #s or arrows)

.wav (windows audio file format) ( the) web (the internet) Web 2.0 (user-generated content site) web address / URL web browser webbook (small, cheap laptop computer) webcam (camera for internet video) web page website window Windows Operating System Windows 7 Windows Media Player (plays media) OS Windows Vista Windows XP wi-fi (wireless internet connection) wi-fi hotspot (source of wireless signal) ( Microsoft) Word (makes Word docments) word processing Zip Disk/Zip Drive zip/unzip (condense/expand a file) * /
zoom in/out (make screen items bigger/smaller)

windows * * * * *
/

numeric keypad offline (not connected to the internet) online (on the internet) online classifieds (classified ads) open (V, a file or start application) open (Adj., active or in use) open-source(software w/out copyright)
options (choosable items/functions in a menu)

OS operating system out of order (Adj., not working, broken) page (1 sheet of paper or 1 screen) page break (starts new page when typing) paper jam (paper is stuck in printer) password paste (V, Ctrl-V) (place from clipboard) PC (personal computer runs Windows OS) peripheral device (printer, scanner, etc.) personal website (website about a person) phishing (attempt to steal personal info) pirated software (counterfeit) pixel (smallest part of the screen image)
pixelated (Adj., unclear b/c you can see individual pixels)

plug in (V) (to connect) plug-in/add-on (N, small software upgrade) pointer / cursor (where the mouse points) pop-up (advertisement) port (jack, where things get plugged in) power adaptor power button (how to turn it on!) power source (Microsoft) Powerpoint Powerpoint presentation pre-installed software (comes w/ comp.) press/push/hit (V, a button or key) print (V) print preview (see how it looks on paper) printer push/hit/press (V, a button or key) quit (an application) RAM (Random-Access Memory) recycle bin (for deleted files in Windows) refresh (reload a webpage, push F5) removable media (i.e. a disc or flash drive) rename (a file) reply (N, new msg includes text of prev.) resize (V, change the size of a window) restart (a computer or application) restore (V, window resumes previous size)
Return/Enter key (confirm/choose, open/start)


-- * Abbreviations: Adj.=Adjective powerpoint N= Noun; V=Verb pg.=page; app= application N= Noun; V=Verb b/c= because
Sth.= something VS.= versus (compared to)

i.e.=for example

rich text format (RTF) rtf file (text file with formatted text) right-click (click with right mouse btn.) rip (to convert music from a CD to mp3)
rollover (V, put cursor on Sth. w/out clicking)

2nd Edition
Arabic provided by Bushra Alomory

February 2010

Compiled by Julian Lee, NYC Civic Corps VNSNY Community Connections TimeBank

save (a file or setting)

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