COMPUTER

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A machine for performing calculations automatically

Synonyms:

computer; computing device; computing machine; data processor; electronic computer; information processing system

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("computer" is a kind of...):

machine (any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks)

Meronyms (parts of "computer"):

computer peripheral; peripheral; peripheral device (electronic equipment external to the circuit board that contains the CPU of a computer)

bus; busbar (an electrical conductor that makes a common connection between several circuits)

monitor; monitoring device (display produced by a device that takes signals and displays them on a television screen or a computer monitor)

cathode-ray tube; CRT (a vacuum tube in which a hot cathode emits a beam of electrons that pass through a high voltage anode and are focused or deflected before hitting a phosphorescent screen)

computer memory; computer storage; memory; memory board; storage; store (an electronic memory device)

C.P.U.; central processing unit; central processor; CPU; mainframe; processor ((computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing)

keyboard (device consisting of a set of keys on a piano or organ or typewriter or typesetting machine or computer or the like)

chip; micro chip; microchip; microprocessor chip; silicon chip (electronic equipment consisting of a small crystal of a silicon semiconductor fabricated to carry out a number of electronic functions in an integrated circuit)

computer hardware; hardware ((computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system)

computer accessory (an accessory for a computer)

diskette; floppy; floppy disk (a small plastic magnetic disk enclosed in a stiff envelope with a radial slit; used to store data or programs for a microcomputer)

disk cache (a cache that stores copies of frequently used disk sectors in random access memory (RAM) so they can be read without accessing the slower disk)

computer circuit (a circuit that is part of a computer)

data converter (converter for changing information from one code to another)

Domain category:

computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)

Domain member category:

data format; data formatting; format; formatting (the organization of information according to preset specifications (usually for computer processing))

data communication; digital communication (electronic transmission of information that has been encoded digitally (as for storage and processing by computers))

computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)

printout (the output of a computer in printed form)

read-out; readout (the output of a computer in readable form)

pass (one complete cycle of operations (as by a computer))

outage (a temporary suspension of operation (as of computers))

back up (make a copy of (a computer file) especially for storage in another place as a security copy)

compatible (capable of being used with or connected to other devices or components without modification)

incompatible (incapable of being used with or connected to other devices or components without modification)

up ((used of computers) operating properly)

interconnection ((computer science) the act of interconnecting (wires or computers or theories etc.))

console (a scientific instrument consisting of displays and an input device that an operator can use to monitor and control a system (especially a computer system))

faceplate (a protective covering for the front of a machine or device (as a door lock or computer component))

module (computer circuit consisting of an assembly of electronic components (as of computer hardware))

plotter (an instrument (usually driven by a computer) for drawing graphs or pictures)

scratchpad ((computer science) a high-speed internal memory used for temporary storage of preliminary information)

expansion slot; slot ((computer) a socket in a microcomputer that will accept a plug-in circuit board)

throughput (output relative to input; the amount passing through a system from input to output (especially of a computer program over a period of time))

VDU; visual display unit ((British) British term for video display)

data structure ((computer science) the organization of data (and its storage allocations in a computer))

alpha test ((computer science) a first test of an experimental product (such as computer software) carried out by the developer)

beta test ((computer science) a second test of an experimental product (such as computer software) carried out by an outside organization)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "computer"):

analog computer; analogue computer (a computer that represents information by variable quantities (e.g., positions or voltages))

digital computer (a computer that represents information by numerical (binary) digits)

home computer (a computer intended for use in the home)

client; guest; node ((computer science) any computer that is hooked up to a computer network)

number cruncher (a computer capable of performing a large number of mathematical operations per second)

pari-mutuel machine; totalisator; totaliser; totalizator; totalizer (computer that registers bets and divides the total amount bet among those who won)

predictor (a computer for controlling antiaircraft fire that computes the position of an aircraft at the instant of a shell's arrival)

host; server ((computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network)

Turing machine (a hypothetical computer with an infinitely long memory tape)

internet site; site; web site; website (a computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Web)

Holonyms ("computer" is a part of...):

platform (the combination of a particular computer and a particular operating system)

Derivation:

compute (make a mathematical calculation or computation)

computerise (control a function, process, or creation by a computer)

computerise (store in a computer)

computerise (provide with computers)

computerize (control a function, process, or creation by a computer)

computerize (store in a computer)

computerize (provide with computers)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An expert at calculation (or at operating calculating machines)

Synonyms:

calculator; computer; estimator; figurer; reckoner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("computer" is a kind of...):

expert (a person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "computer"):

adder (a person who adds numbers)

number cruncher (someone able to perform complex and lengthy calculations)

actuary; statistician (someone versed in the collection and interpretation of numerical data (especially someone who uses statistics to calculate insurance premiums))

subtracter (a person who subtracts numbers)

Derivation:

compute (make a mathematical calculation or computation)

computerise (control a function, process, or creation by a computer)

Credits

Context examples:

The worldwide standard for the code numbers used by computers to represent all the uppercase and lowercase Latin letters, numbers, punctuation, and other symbols.

(ASCII, NCI Thesaurus)

A quantum computer would be able to solve previously unsolvable computational problems by taking advantage of the strange behaviour of particles at the subatomic scale, and quantum phenomena such as entanglement and superposition.

(Quantum state of single electrons controlled by ‘surfing’ on sound waves, University of Cambridge)

The team intends to design the memory device to operate using fundamentally different principles than those used in current computers.

(Neuromorphic Metallic Nanowire Network Shows Human Brain-Like Functions, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The scientists are hoping to help answer that question through a clever combination of high-throughput genetic sequencing and natural-language-processing computer algorithms.

(Microbes are at work in our bodies, and researchers have figured out what they're up to, National Science Foundation)

The echoes are sent to a computer, which makes a picture called a sonogram.

(Abdominal ultrasound, NCI Dictionary)

A set of protocols designed to provide communication between a software application and a computer operating system or between applications.

(Application Program Interface, NCI Thesaurus)

An x-ray or computer image (CT scan or MRI) of the blood vessels and blood flow in the body.

(Angiogram, NCI Dictionary)

Applied to a problem-solving procedure implemented in software to be executed by a computer.

(Algorithm, NCI Thesaurus)

The pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.

(CAT scan, NCI Dictionary)

An optical disk storage system for computers on which data can be read or from which data can be retrieved but not entered or modified.