English

Adjective

peripheral ‎(comparative more peripheral, superlative most peripheral)

1. On the periphery or boundary.
2. Beside the point.
3. Unimportant.
4. Auxiliary.
5. (neuroanatomy) Related to or located in the peripheral nervous system.
   • 1988 March 1, “Isolation and analysis of the gene encoding peripheral myelin protein zero”, in Neuron, DOI:10.1016/0896-6273(88)90211-5, page 73:

     We have isolated the gene encoding the Schwann cell glycoprotein P0, the major structural protein of the peripheral myelin sheath.

Derived terms

• peripheralise, peripheralize
• peripherally
• peripheral vision
• peripheral nervous system

Related terms

• periphery

Translations

Noun

peripheral ‎(plural peripherals)

1. (computing) a device, such as a printer or scanner, connected to a computer
   • 1984, ‎Human Connection, Making MS-DOS & PC-DOS work for you:

     Check your peripheral's manual for the information you'll need.

   • 1986, Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, (Please provide the title of the work):

     Check your peripheral's owners' manual to see at what speed your peripheral transmits or receives information, and then record this on the DIP Switch Information chart in the column at the left.

   • 1994, Steve Birchall, Upgrading and repairing Macs:

     Turn on the Mac, and check your peripheral. Since you've already installed your device driver, it should be available where you need it....

2. peripheral vision
   • 2000, Eric Jerome Dicke, Milk in My Coffee:

     We hailed a cab. The moment we got in, she stared at me with how-can-a-man-be-so-cruel eyes. I felt her glare, saw some of its fiery glow in my peripheral. The heat made me glance her way.

   • 2003, Kim Louise, The Glory of Love:

     He would hear the coach's admonition, "Always check your peripheral," after the ringing stopped in his ears. But before then, his eyes were fixed on the ball and a possible interception, not the receiver angling toward him.

   • 2013, Saye Z. B. Zonen, Finding My Frequency:

     As I sat by the window and read, I caught sight of the mailman in my peripheral.

   • 2014, Bill Ladson, "Zimmerman handles left field with ease -- and no E's" on MLB.com

     I was kind of looking at the ball, keeping him in my peripheral and all of sudden I see him closing in on the ball.

Synonyms

• peripheral device

Translations