bios
bios — noun
- biossingular
- biosesplural
1. the basic software permanently stored on a computer's motherboard that starts ru
the basic software permanently stored on a computer's motherboard that starts running the moment the power is switched on; it controls the communication between the central processor and connected hardware devices such as the keyboard, screen, and storage drives, and checks that everything is working before the main operating system loads.
Hao updated his computer's BIOS to fix a problem with the new graphics card.
the BIOS → definite article with firmware name
When Tanaka's PC failed to boot, the repair shop found a corrupted BIOS was preventing Windows from detecting the SSD.
corrupted BIOS — common noun modifier pattern
When Otis pressed F2 at startup, the screen showed the BIOS configuration menu.
When Priya opened her new laptop's recovery menu and saw 'UEFI Firmware Settings' — not the old 'BIOS Setup' screen.
Mira read the motherboard manual carefully before changing any settings in the BIOS.
- firmware
broader category; BIOS is one type of firmware, but firmware also includes UEFI and embedded controller software
文法句型
the BIOS
a BIOS update
BIOS settings
用法筆記
Almost always written in uppercase letters (BIOS), even though the dictionary form is lowercase. This sense is used as a countable noun when referring to a specific version or type of BIOS (e.g. 'the latest BIOS from the manufacturer') and as an uncountable noun when talking about the system in general (e.g. 'the computer boots from BIOS').
常見錯誤
bios — abbreviation
1. a short way of writing 'Basic Input-Output System', which is the set of very bas
a short way of writing 'Basic Input-Output System', which is the set of very basic startup instructions built into a computer that tell the processor what to do when the device is first turned on, before any other software is loaded.
At a workshop, the instructor pointed to the motherboard chip and explained that BIOS stands for Basic Input-Output System.
BIOS stands for … — expansion pattern for acronyms
Sumin learned in class that BIOS refers to the low-level software that wakes up the hardware.
Yusuf opened the system information screen to check whether the motherboard needed a firmware fix, and saw 'BIOS Version 2.15'.
Walid watched a tutorial on what each letter in BIOS stands for and how it checks memory during startup.
- Basic Input-Output System
the full spelled-out form; not an abbreviation
文法句型
BIOS stands for …
abbreviated as BIOS
用法筆記
This meaning is always expanded as 'Basic Input-Output System'. The abbreviated form is universally capitalised as BIOS in technical writing, documentation, and on-screen labels. Distinguish from sense noun/1, which treats BIOS as a concrete piece of firmware that can be updated or configured — this abbreviation sense simply provides the full name of the acronym.