n. [ L. digitulus, dim. of digitus. ] (Zool.) A little finger or toe, or something resembling one. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. digitals. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the fingers; done with the fingers; as, digital compression; digital examination. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. of or pertaining to digits{ 3 }; expressed in digits{ 3 }, or using digits{ 3 }; as, a digital display; a digital clock. [ PJC ]

3. (Computers) performing internal logical and arithmetic operations by means of digits, usually represented as binary numbers. Contrasted to analog, wherein variables are represented as coninuous physical quantities such as voltages or the position of a pointer on a continuous scale; as, a digital computer. [ PJC ]

☞ In digital computers, physical quantities in analog form, such as images, sounds, distances, voltages, etc., must first be converted to an internal digital representation before calculations can be performed on them. The conversion may be done by the data enterer, by approximation, in the case of numerical values, or by analog-to-digital conversion in the case of light or sound intensities. The latter case uses special equipment to convert the physical impulses into a digital value, using a pre-defined encoding system. [ PJC ]

n. 1. (Computers) a computer that represents information by numerical digits with a fixed number of values; -- most commonly each piece of information is internally represented in binary code, as an array of bits, which are information units each of which can take only two values. The possible values of each bit are conventionally represented as the numbers 1 or 0. The bits of information are usually further organized, maniplulated, and discussed as nybbles (4 bits, rarely used), bytes (8 bits, most commonly used), or words (from 16 to 128 bits, and in the future probably more). A word is usually defined as the number of bits that are processed at one time by the central procesor unit.
Syn. -- . [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. digitaline. ] (a) (Medicine, Pharmacy) Any one of several extracts of foxglove (Digitalis), as the “French extract, ” the “German extract, ” etc., which differ among themselves in composition and properties. Both Digitalis lanata and Digitalis purpurea have been used to prepare such extracts. (b) (Chem.) the distinctive chemical substance, a steroid glycoside, which is the essential ingredient of the extracts of foxglove. It is a white, crystalline substance (C36H56O14), and is a 3-substituted diglucoside of a steroid. It is a powerful cardiac stimulant and is used as a cardiotonic for treatment of certain heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure. Chemically it is (3β, 5β, 16β)-3-[ 6-Deoxy-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-methyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)oxy ]-14, 16-dihyroxy-card-20(22)-enolide. The related compounds digitoxin and digoxin are also extracted from the foxglove. The class of steroid glycosides having cardiotonic properties are refered to as the cardiac glycosides. MI11
Syn. -- digitalinum verum, Diginorgin, Schmiedeberg's digitalin, digitalis, digitalis glycoside. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ NL.: cf. F. digitale. So named (according to Linnæus) from its finger-shaped corolla. ] 1. (Bot.) A genus of plants of the family Schrophulariaceae, including the foxglove. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) The dried leaves of the purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), formerly used in heart disease, disturbance of the circulation, etc. Its use has been largely replaced by that of the pure active ingredient, digitalin. See digitalin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as digitalization.
Syn. -- digitalization. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. the administration of digitalis for the treatment of certain heart disorders.
Syn. -- digitalisation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the effect produced by the administraation of dititalis. [ PJC ]

v. t. 1. to record digitally, e. g. on digital tape or compact disks.
Syn. -- digitize. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. to convert from a non-digital form (such as a voltage or an image or an analog recording) to a digital{ 2 } form, for storage or transmission.
Syn. -- digitize. [ PJC ]