Wiki
Definition
Scientific or technical measurements, values calculated therefrom, observations, or facts that can be represented by numbers, tables, graphs, models, text, or symbols which are used as a basis for reasoning and further calculation. A reinterpretable representation of information in a formalized manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing. Examples of data include a sequence of bits, a table of numbers, the characters on a page, the recording of sounds made by a person speaking, or a moon rock specimen.
Source
CEOS EO Data Stewardship Glossary; Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS), Recommended Practice CCSDS 650.0-M-2, Magenta Book 2012
NESDIS Data Management Lexicon and Related Terms
Category
proposed amendment/new definition:
Value and (possibly) uncertainty of an attribute of a specific entity.
Note 1 to entry: Data can be factual (i.e. obtained by observation) or fictional (obtained e.g. through modelling, estimating or assigning), quantitative (continuous) or qualitative (categorical) , and analogue or digital (list not exhaustive).
Note 2 to entry: Data simply describe entities using certain attributes and are not targeted at a particular use or audience.