How Do You Spell KEYPUNCHED?

Pronunciation: [kˈiːpʌnt͡ʃt] (IPA)

Keypunched is a verb that refers to the act of punching holes in a card by using a keypunch machine. The spelling of this word is broken down into three syllables: "key" /kiː/, "punched" /pʌntʃt/. The first syllable, "key", is spelled with the letter "e" but pronounced with the "ee" sound as in "bee". The second and final syllable, "punched", has a "t" at the end, which is silent. This word is often used in reference to older technology that utilized punch cards for data storage.

KEYPUNCHED Meaning and Definition

1. Keypunched refers to a process of entering data into a computer or electronic system using a device known as a keypunch machine. This device typically consists of a keyboard with buttons corresponding to different characters or symbols, similar to a typewriter. The process involves physically punching holes into punch cards or paper tape in specific locations, with each hole representing a specific piece of information or data. These punched cards or tapes are then used for data input into computer systems.

   Keypunching was a widely used method of data entry before the advent of direct keyboard entry and graphical user interfaces. It was especially popular during the mid-20th century when punch cards were the prevalent form of data storage and processing. Keypunch operators, who were trained to operate the keypunch machines, played a critical role in business data processing.

   The term "keypunched" can also refer to the past tense form of the verb "to keypunch" or the action of entering data using a keypunch machine. It describes the act of punching holes in cards or tape to record data for input into a computer system. Today, the keypunch method is generally obsolete, replaced by more modern and efficient data input techniques such as keyboard entry or scanning technologies.

Etymology of KEYPUNCHED

The term "keypunched" has its origin in the domain of early data processing machines, specifically in the era of punched card systems that were prevalent during the mid-20th century.

The word "keypunched" is a combination of two elements: "key" and "punched".

"Key" refers to the buttons or keys on the input devices of these machines, where operators would press a specific key corresponding to a character or symbol on the punched card. The keys were typically arranged in a specific layout, often resembling a keyboard, allowing operators to manually enter data.

"Punched" refers to the act of creating holes on the punched card using a key-operated device called a keypunch. A keypunch machine would have a series of keys, each representing a specific character or symbol, and when a key was pressed, it would punch a corresponding hole in the card.