an apparatus at the end of a railroad car, railroad track, etc., for absorbing shock during coupling, collisions, etc.

any device, material, or apparatus used as a shield, cushion, or bumper, esp. on machinery.

any intermediate or intervening shield or device reducing the danger of interaction between two machines, chemicals, electronic components, etc.

a person or thing that shields and protects against annoyance, harm, hostile forces, etc., or that lessens the impact of a shock or reversal.

any reserve moneys, negotiable securities, legal procedures, etc., that protect a person, organization, or country against financial ruin.

buffer state.

Ecology . an animal population that becomes the prey of a predator that usually feeds on a different species.

Computers . a storage device for temporarily holding data until the computer is ready to receive or process the data, as when a receiving unit has an operating speed lower than that of the unit feeding data to it.

Electronics . a circuit with a single output activated by one or more of several inputs.

Chemistry .

any substance or mixture of compounds that, added to a solution, is capable of neutralizing both acids and bases without appreciably changing the original acidity or alkalinity of the solution.

Also called buffer solution. a solution containing such a substance.

Chemistry . to treat with a buffer.

to cushion, shield, or protect.

to lessen the adverse effect of; ease

The drug buffered his pain.

noun

bulwark , bumper , cushion , defense , fender , intermediary , screen , shield , shock absorber , backstop , pad , safeguard , zone