cache

noun

\ ˈkash

Definition of cache

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a hiding place especially for concealing and preserving provisions or implements

b : a secure place of storage discovered a cache of weapons

2 : something hidden or stored in a cache The cache consisted of documents and private letters.

3 : a computer memory with very short access time used for storage of frequently or recently used instructions or data

— called also cache memory

cache

verb

cached; caching

Definition of cache (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to place (something) in a cache: such as

a : to place or store (something) in a hidden or secure place for safety or concealment cache camp supplies by a lake coins cached in a teapot

b computers : to place (instructions or data) in cache memory for temporary storage caching websites to speed up future retrieval

Synonyms Cash and Cache More Example Sentences Learn More about cache

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Cash and Cache

Cache and cash are homophones (words that are pronounced alike but have different meanings, origins, or spelling) whose likeness in sound may lead to perplexity.

Cache primarily refers to a thing that is hidden or stored somewhere, or to the place where it is hidden. It has recently taken on another common meaning, “short-term computer memory where information is stored for easy retrieval.” Cash, on the other hand, is most often used in the sense “ready money.”

If you find yourself confused by these words, remember that you can store cash in a cache, but you can't do the reverse. Be mindful, too, that if you run out of cash you won't be able to buy something, but if you're short on cache, your computer won’t work.

Examples of cache in a Sentence

Noun

a weapons cache used by terrorists Police found a cache of stolen cars in the woods. Her new laptop has one megabyte of cache.

Verb

an eccentric who cached money in odd places, such as under the boards of the floor cached the fugitive slaves in their cellar until they could make their way to Canada

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Since there were no gold or precious objects in the trove, which wealthy citizens of Pompeii liked to flaunt, the cache of charms was likely not owned by the mistress of the house or a member of the family. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "A Sorceress’s Kit Was Discovered in the Ashes of Pompeii," 14 Aug. 2019 Last week, police raided a warehouse in an industrial area of the city, seizing a large cache of high-powered explosives, petrol bombs and other weapons. — James Griffiths, CNN, "Defiant Hong Kong protesters return to site of subway violence for 8th weekend of marches," 26 July 2019 Those factors, along with a concern that Olsen had access to a significant cache of guns, caused police to treat the threat as a serious one, police Chief Todd Werth said. — Eric Heisig, cleveland.com, "Police made quick arrest of Ohio man because they feared mass shooting threats were legitimate, records show," 14 Aug. 2019 That became clear to researchers who were alerted to a large cache of shipwrecks near Fourni, Greece, by a local fisher. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "How underwater archaeology reveals hidden wonders," 2 Aug. 2019 Police searched a second residence of one of the three suspects connected to the original cache. — Washington Post, "World Digest: July 20, 2019," 20 July 2019 While some Area 51 visitors do believe that the site, near Rachel, Nevada, is home to a secret government cache of alien technology (or aliens themselves), the government says it’s an Air Force testing ground. — Rachel E. Greenspan, Time, "Here's What Happens When People Actually Approach Area 51," 19 July 2019 Tuesday, a much more fun cache of data leaked online: 18 hours of previously unreleased music from Radiohead. — Emily Dreyfuss, WIRED, "Security News This Week: Telegram Says China Is Behind DDoS," 15 June 2019 There was only every single ant’s explicit sting in the cache of what my flesh had recollected. — Justin Phillip Reed, The New Republic, "This Is Really Happening," 6 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of OregonLive.com. — oregonlive, "Newspaper corrections for Sept. 9, 2019," 8 Sep. 2019 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of AL.com. — Matt Scalici | [email protected], al, "Watch Auburn arrive at AT&T Stadium to face Oregon in season opener," 31 Aug. 2019 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of AL.com. — al, "NCAA denies waiver for former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis at Liberty," 28 Aug. 2019 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Ohio. — Mike Rose, cleveland.com, "The Plain Dealer’s front page for August 14, 2019," 14 Aug. 2019 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of AL.com. — al, "Jarran Reed on NFL suspension: ‘I’m a great person regardless of what the picture portrays’," 26 July 2019 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Ohio. — Jane Morice | [email protected], cleveland.com, "The Plain Dealer’s front page for July 28, 2019," 28 July 2019 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of AL.com. — al, "Jarran Reed on NFL suspension: ‘I’m a great person regardless of what the picture portrays’," 26 July 2019 The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Ohio. — Mike Rose, cleveland.com, "The Plain Dealer’s front page for July 17, 2019," 17 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cache.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for cache

cache

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cache

: a group of things that have been hidden in a secret place because they are illegal or have been stolen

technical : a part of a computer's memory where information is kept so that the computer can find it very quickly

See the full definition for cache in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cache

noun

\ ˈkash

cache

Definition of cache

Synonyms for cache

Cash and Cache

Examples of cache in a Sentence

First Known Use of cache

History and Etymology for cache

English Language Learners Definition of cache

cache

Definition of cache

Synonyms for cache

Cash and Cache

Examples of cache in a Sentence

First Known Use of cache

History and Etymology for cache

English Language Learners Definition of cache

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