Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

computer

American  
[kuhm-pyoo-ter] / kəmˈpyu tər /

noun

  1. a programmable electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations. Mainframes, desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones are some of the different types of computers.

  2. a computer program or algorithm.

    A computer can write a pop tune, but there's no guarantee it will be a hit.

  3. a person who computes; computist.

computer British  
/ kəmˈpjuːtə /

noun

    1. a device, usually electronic, that processes data according to a set of instructions. The digital computer stores data in discrete units and performs arithmetical and logical operations at very high speed. The analog computer has no memory and is slower than the digital computer but has a continuous rather than a discrete input. The hybrid computer combines some of the advantages of digital and analog computers See also digital computer analog computer hybrid computer

    2. ( as modifier )

      computer technology

  2. a person who computes or calculates

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
computer Scientific  
/ kəm-pyo̅o̅′tər /

  1. A programmable machine that performs high-speed processing of numbers, as well as of text, graphics, symbols, and sound. All computers contain a central processing unit that interprets and executes instructions; input devices, such as a keyboard and a mouse, through which data and commands enter the computer; memory that enables the computer to store programs and data; and output devices, such as printers and display screens, that show the results after the computer has processed data.

computer Cultural  

  1. An electronic device that stores and manipulates information. Unlike a calculator, it is able to store a program and retrieve information from its memory. Most computers today are digital, which means they perform operations with quantities represented electronically as digits.

Other Word Forms

  • computerlike adjective
  • noncomputer adjective

Etymology

Origin of computer

First recorded in 1640–50; compute + -er 1; compare Middle French computeur

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He wants to go back to school to study computer science.

From BBC

When Caleb was nearing the end of his computer science degree and looking for his first job, one of few sectors actively recruiting graduates was defence.

From BBC

The cost of lots of the devices we all use could be forced up in 2026 because the price of Ram - once one of the cheapest computer components - has more than doubled since October 2025.

From BBC

Even bitcoin miners—the companies that own warehouses of specialized computers that unlock new bitcoins—are changing their business models to cater to AI.

From The Wall Street Journal

To understand what happened, astronomers compared the observations with computer simulations and proposed two scenarios.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.