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Dongle: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ”Œ
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dongle

 

[ หˆdษ”ล‹ษกษ™l ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

hardware device

A dongle is a small hardware device that connects to a computer or other electronic device to enable certain functionalities, often including wireless communication. Dongles are commonly used for connecting to a network, adding extra USB ports, or providing digital rights management for software applications. They can take various forms, such as USB sticks or adapters, and are often specific to certain devices or operating systems. In recent years, with the rise of wireless technologies, dongles may also refer to devices that facilitate Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.

Synonyms

adapter, connector, peripheral

Examples of usage

  • I plugged the dongle into my laptop to connect to the internet.
  • The game requires a dongle to verify the license.
  • She bought a new dongle for her tablet to access 4G.
  • He uses a USB dongle for extra storage on his computer.

Translations

Translations of the word "dongle" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น dongle

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคกเฅ‹เค‚เค—เคฒ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Dongle

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ dongle

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะพะฝะณะป

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ dongle

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ‰ใƒณใ‚ฐใƒซ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dongle

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ dongle

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท dongle

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋™๊ธ€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฏูˆู†ุบู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dongle

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ dongle

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅŠ ๅฏ†็‹—

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ dongle

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ dongle

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะดะพะฝะณะป

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒแƒœแƒ’แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dongle

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ dongle

Etymology

The term 'dongle' is believed to have originated in the 1980s, deriving from a combination of 'dong,' which may reference the sound made by the device when plugged in, and the suffix '-le,' which is often used to denote smallness. Initially, dongles were used for software protection, helping to verify whether users had legitimate licenses for their programs. As technology progressed, the functionality of dongles evolved, incorporating connectivity features for various devices. The concept behind a dongle remained related to security and connectivity, attributed to the increasing need for portable solutions. Today, dongles are ubiquitous in the tech industry, highlighting their essential role in both hardware and software integration.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,617, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.