Cache
/kæʃ/
nounverbB2
Definition
Cache means a hidden store of items or information kept for future use. As a noun, it refers to the place or collection of stored things. As a verb, it means to store things in a hidden or safe place. It is often used in technology to describe temporary storage of data on computers or devices to make access faster.
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See It in Action
A hidden store of goods or supplies
- •The hikers found a cache of food hidden under a rock.
- •Soldiers used a cache to keep extra weapons safe.
- •The explorers discovered a cache of ancient tools.
Computer data stored temporarily for quick access
- •Your browser uses a cache to load websites faster.
- •Clearing the cache can help fix loading problems on your phone.
- •The app saves images in its cache to avoid downloading them repeatedly.
(Verb) To hide or store something for future use
- •She cached the money in a safe place at home.
- •The squirrel cached nuts for the winter.
- •The program caches data to improve performance.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "cache" like "box," but a secret or hidden box where you keep important things safe and ready to use later
- ✓Picture a small treasure chest buried in the ground or hidden in a tree, waiting for someone to find it
- ✓It's the feeling when you hide your favorite snack so no one else can eat it right away
- ✓Sounds like "cash" → imagine hiding money (cash) in a secret place to keep it safe
- ✓In stories, treasure hunters look for hidden caches full of gold or supplies
- ✓NOT like "trash" (something thrown away), cache is something valuable or useful kept carefully
- ✓NOT like "store" (a public place), cache is secret and private
- ✓NOT like "memory" in the brain, but similar because computer cache is a small, quick memory for data
Try Other Words
- •Store: to keep something in a place (Use when the place is not secret or hidden)
- •Hide: to put something where it cannot be seen (Use when focusing on secrecy, not storage)
- •Reserve: something kept for later use (Use when talking about saving resources or supplies)
- •Save: to keep something for future use (Use especially with digital data or money)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix; single root word "cache")
- •Etymology: From French "cache," meaning "hide" or "hidden place"
- •Historical development: Originally used in hunting and military contexts for hidden supplies; later adopted in computing for fast data storage
- •Modern usage: Common in technology for temporary data storage and in everyday language for hidden supplies or secret stores
- •Interesting fact: The word "cache" is pronounced like "cash" but spelled differently to show its meaning related to hiding, not money
Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of a cache help computers work faster, and can you think of examples in daily life where you use a "cache" without realizing it?
•Why might someone want to keep a cache of supplies or information secret? How does this affect trust and safety?
Fill in the blanks
1.The hikers found a cache ___ food and water hidden ___ the cave walls.
2.When your phone runs slowly, clearing the cache ___ help improve its speed.
3.Unlike a regular store, a cache is usually hidden ___ plain sight to keep things safe.
4.The squirrel cached nuts ___ the fall so it would have food during winter.
5.The program caches data ___ your device to avoid downloading it ___ again.
6.She decided to cache her emergency money ___ a secret place in her house.
7.Finding a cache often means discovering ___ that was kept safe and ___ for later use.