Data Management Terms

verb to arrange or organize into categories or groups based on similarities or characteristics

• It is important to classify the different species of plants based on their characteristics.
• Can you help me classify these books into different genres?
• I'm trying to classify all these songs into my playlist.
• She tried to classify her emotions but found it difficult to put them into categories.

verb to collect and combine information or data from different sources in order to examine and compare them

• The librarian will collate all the research papers before distributing them to the students.
• Can you help me collate these documents before the meeting?
• I'll collate all the files and then we can grab lunch.
• She had to collate all the information from various sources to make sense of the situation.

noun the act of comparing texts in order to detect errors or variations

• The librarian spent hours working on the collation of the rare manuscripts.
• I need your help with the collation of these documents.
• Let's get together and do the collation for the project.
• The collation of ideas led to a breakthrough in our research.

verb to remove or erase something, usually from a computer or other electronic device

• Please make sure to delete any unnecessary files from the server.
• Hey, don't forget to delete those old photos from your phone.
• I accidentally deleted that text message, can you send it again?
• Sometimes we need to delete negative thoughts from our minds to feel happier.

verb to cease to be visible or to exist; to vanish

• The magician made the rabbit disappear in front of the audience.
• I swear I saw my keys here a minute ago, but now they've disappeared!
• She ghosted him and disappeared without a trace.
• The old traditions seem to be disappearing in the modern world.

noun the act of erasing or removing something completely

verb to erase or remove completely

• The artist used a special eraser to efface any mistakes on the canvas.
• I tried to efface the embarrassing memory from my mind.
• He tried to efface his ex's number from his phone after the breakup.
• Time cannot efface the memories of our childhood adventures.

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, such as 'filed' in this case

• The lawsuit was filed in the district court last week.
• She filed a complaint with the HR department about her coworker.
• I heard they filed for divorce after only a year of marriage.
• He filed away the memory of their argument in the back of his mind.

noun a place where items are kept or maintained in their original state

verb to maintain or keep something in its original state or condition

• It is important to preserve historical artifacts for future generations to study.
• Let's make sure to preserve this old family recipe for future dinners.
• I'm gonna try to preserve my sanity during finals week.
• She wore sunglasses to preserve her anonymity in the crowded city.

verb to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse; purify

• The act of purging toxins from the body is essential for maintaining good health.
• I'm thinking of purging my closet and getting rid of clothes I never wear.
• She's always purging her social media accounts to keep things fresh.
• Purging negative thoughts from your mind can lead to a more positive outlook on life.

verb to regain or recover something that was lost or misplaced

• The data analyst was able to retrieve the missing files from the server.
• I'll try to retrieve the documents for you by tomorrow.
• I'm gonna try and retrieve my phone from my friend's place later.
• She tried to retrieve her lost confidence after the setback.

noun a situation characterized by lack of progress or activity

verb to shed or remove

• The slough is a wetland area characterized by stagnant water and thick vegetation.
• Let's go for a hike in the slough behind the park.
• I almost got stuck in the slough while trying to retrieve my ball.
• She felt like she was in a slough of despair, unable to see a way out.

verb to remove or eliminate something by wiping or rubbing

adverb used to describe how something is done or to what extent

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• She used a soft cloth to gently wipe away the dust from the antique furniture.
• I always carry tissues with me to quickly wipe away any spills.
• He grabbed a paper towel to wipe away the mess before anyone noticed.
• The therapist helped her to wipe away the painful memories of her past.