Definition of "database" in English

noun

1. (loosely) A collection of (usually) organized information in a regular structure, usually but not necessarily in a machine-readable format accessible by a computer.

   • I have a database of all my contacts in my personal organizer.

2. (computing) A set of tables and other objects (queries, reports, forms) in the form of a structured data set.

   • The "books" database will have three tables, and the "customers" database will have two tables.

3. (computing, loosely, metonymic) A software program (application) for storing, retrieving and manipulating such a structured data set.

   • Which database do you use: MySQL or Oracle?

4. (computing, loosely, metonymic) A combination of such data sets and the programs for using them.

verb

1. (transitive) To enter (data) into a database.