archive

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A place or collection containing records, documents, or other materials of historical interest. Often used in the plural: old land deeds in the municipal archives.
2. n. Computer Science A long-term storage area, often on magnetic tape, for backup copies of files or for files that are no longer in active use.
3. n. Computer Science A file containing one or more files in compressed format for more efficient storage and transfer.
4. n. A repository for stored memories or information: the archive of the mind.
5. v. To place or store in an archive.
6. v. Computer Science To copy or compress (a file) into an archive.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A place where public records or other historical documents are kept: now only in the plural.
2. n. A record or document preserved in evidence of something; in the plural, documents or records relating to the rights, privileges, claims, treaties, constitutions, etc., of a family, corporation, community, or nation.
3. n. Synonyms Record-office, registry.
4. n. Registers, chronicles, annals, muniments.

Wiktionary

1. n. A place for storing earlier, and often historical, material. An archive usually contains documents (letters, records, newspapers, etc.) or other types of media kept for historical interest.
2. n. The material so kept, considered as a whole (compare archives).
3. v. To put into an archive.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The place in which public records or historic documents are kept.
2. n. Public records or documents preserved as evidence of facts.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a depository containing historical records and documents
2. v. put into an archive