memory

/'memFri/ noun

1 ABILITY TO REMEMBER (C, U) the ability to remember things, places, experiences etc: Grandpa was getting old and his memory wasn't so good. | have a good/bad memory for sth (=be good or bad at remembering things of a particular kind): I have a terrible memory for names. | have a short/long memory (=remember something for a short time or for a long time) | do sth from memory (=do something such as say a poem or play a piece of music by remembering it): The cellist played the whole piece through from memory.

2 STH YOU REMEMBER (countable usually plural) something that you remember from the past about a person, place, or experience

(+ of): memories of the war | happy/good/bad etc memories: He has lots of happy memories of his stay in Japan. | childhood memories (=memories of the time when you were a child): One of my earliest childhood memories is of my mother reading stories to me by the fire. | bring back memories (=to remind you of pleasant events): Those old songs bring back memories. 3

a) (C) the part of a computer in which information can be stored

b) (U) the amount of space that can be used for storing information on a computer: megabytes of memory

4 if my memory serves me (well/correctly) used when you are almost sure that you have remembered something correctly: We first moved here in 1962, if my memory serves me correctly.

5 speaking from memory spoken used to say that you are telling someone what you remember about something

6 have a memory like a sieve spoken to be very bad at remembering things

7 sb's memory is playing tricks on them spoken used to say that someone is remembering things incorrectly: My memory must be playing tricks on me; I'm sure I put that book on the desk.

8 take a walk/trip down memory lane spend some time remembering the past

9 in living memory since the earliest time that people now alive can remember: the hottest summer in living memory

10 within sb's memory during the time that someone can remember: There have been two world wars within the memory of my grandfather.

11 in memory of also to the memory of for the purpose of remembering someone and reminding other people of them after they have died: She set up a charitable fund in memory of her father.

12 sb's memory lives on used to say that people still remember someone after they have died or gone away

13 sb's memory the way you think about someone who has died who you knew very well: a rose garden dedicated to his memory

—see also: commit to memory commit (6), jog sb's memory jog 1 (3), lose your memory lose (4), photographic memory photographic (2), refresh sb's memory refresh (2)