This set contains words and phrases that have particular meanings in the world of Information Technology.

Teacher Trevi's Basic Information Technology (IT) Vocabulary

The noun monitor refers to the video screen used to display information on your computer.

The verb monitor is used to describe the action of keeping watch over a technical fault or process running on a computer.

The verb to connect is used to describe the action of establishing communication with the Internet or with another device.

The noun connection refers to the communication between two or more computer devices, or a link to the Internet

The verb to install means to set up or make a computer or application (software program) ready for use.

The noun installation refers to the act of installing a computer or application.

The noun, network, refers to a system of connected computers and other devices such as printers, that exchange data with each other

Networked, the adjective form of this word, is used to describe the kind of environment where connected computers and other devices exchange data with each other.

The verb to boot has a special meaning in IT. It’s often used in the phrasal verb to boot up, which means to turn on a computer and have it ready for use.

Boot up is a separable phrasal verb that you can use with a pronoun. This means that you can take the preposition “up” and use it later in the sentence (I couldn’t boot it up this morning)

The verb to access, when used in IT, means entering and using a computer, website or application.

The noun access refers to the act of accessing the computer. It’s commonly used with the verb “grant”- to mean give permission to use.

To download is a verb you’ll often hear in IT, to talk about transferring data or information from a main computer source to another device.

The noun download refers to the information or application that has been downloaded.

The verb to upgrade means to bring your computer (or other device) up to date with the latest hardware or software.

The noun upgrade simply means an update to a higher (newer) version.

The verb to browse is used in IT to look over information casually without being too detailed.

The noun browser refers to the program on your computer that allows you to open and use websites on the Internet

The phrasal verb back up is often used in IT to mean making a copy of data and files to protect them against accidental loss. Back up is a separable phrasal verb that can be used with a pronoun.

Backup, when spelled as one word, is a noun referring to the copy of files and data that you’ve made to keep