1. 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. Computer Science.

a.) A long-term storage area, often on magnetic tape, for backup copies of files or for files that are no longer in active use.

b.) A file containing one or more files in compressed format for more efficient storage and transfer.

3. A repository for stored memories or information: the archive of the mind.

ar·chived, ar·chiv·ing, ar·chives

1. To place or store in an archive.

2. Computer Science. To copy or compress (a file) into an archive.