USB
USB (noun) means a standard system of connectors and cables for linking devices such as keyboards, phones, printers and drives to a computer, and for supplying power to them. Example: “Plug the microphone into any USB port on the back of the machine.”
How to Use USB
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe standard plug and cable used to connect gadgets to a computer, or the little memory stick itself.
Universal and neutral. Always written in capitals.
'A USB' meaning a memory stick is informal but extremely common; in writing, 'USB drive' or 'flash drive' is clearer.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Plug the microphone into any _____ port on the back of the machine.
Etymology
An initialism of Universal Serial Bus.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does USB stand for?
Universal Serial Bus. 'Universal' because one connector type was meant to replace the many incompatible ports computers used before it, and 'serial bus' because data travels one bit at a time along a shared connection.
What is the difference between USB-C and USB 3.0?
They describe different things. USB-C is the shape of the connector, the small oval one that plugs in either way up. USB 3.0 and its successors are speed standards. A USB-C cable can carry a fast or a slow standard, which is why two identical-looking cables can perform very differently.
Is it safe to plug in a USB stick you found?
No. A drive can be configured to act as a keyboard and type commands the moment it is connected, or to carry malware that runs automatically. Discarded drives are a genuine and long-established attack method.
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