peripheral Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (computer science) electronic equipment connected by cable to the CPU of a computer
    peripheral device; computer peripheral.
    • disk drives and printers are important peripherals
  2. adjective on or near an edge or constituting an outer boundary; the outer area
    • Russia's peripheral provinces
    • peripheral suburbs
  3. adjective satellite related to the key issue but not of central importance
    • a peripheral interest
    • energy is far from a peripheral issue in the economy
    • peripheral issues

WordNet

Pe*riph"er*al adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to a periphery; constituting a periphery; peripheric.
  2. (Anat.) External; away from the center; as, the peripheral portion of the nervous system.

Webster 1913