Computer Definition
computer
See also Computer
Contents |
English
Wikimedia Commons has related media at: computer Wikipedia has an article on: Computer An electronic computer (circa early 1980s).Etymology
Pronunciation
Noun
computer (plural computers)
- (now rare, chiefly historical) A person employed to perform computations. [from 17th c.]
- 1927, J. B. S. Haldane, Possible Worlds and Other Essays, p. 173
- Only a few years ago Mr. Powers, an American computer, disproved a hypothesis about prime numbers which had held the field for more than 250 years.
- 2003, Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, BCA, p. 116:
- One Harvard computer, Annie Jump Cannon, used her repetitive acquaintance with the stars to devise a system of stellar classifications so practical that it is still in use today.
- 1927, J. B. S. Haldane, Possible Worlds and Other Essays, p. 173
- A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large amounts of data very quickly; now especially, a small one for personal or home use employed for manipulating text or graphics, accessing the Internet, or playing games or media. [from 20th c.]
Quotations
- For examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.
Synonyms
- (programmable device that performs logical operations): automatic data processing machine, processor, 'puter (informal), machine, calculator, portable computer, laptop
Hyponyms
- (programmable device that performs logical operations): desktop, laptop
- See also Wikisaurus:computer
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Related terms
Related termsSee also
See alsoDutch
Pronunciation
- IPA: /kɔmˈpjutər/
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Audio (file)
Noun
computer m. (plural computers, diminutive computertje)
Verb
computer
French
Etymology
From Latin computāre (“to compute, sum up”).
Verb
computer
- (old) to compute
Conjugation
Conjugation of computer (see also Appendix:French verbs)| simple | compound | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| infinitive | computer | avoir computé | |||||
| gerund | en computant | en ayant computé | |||||
| present participle | computant | ||||||
| past participle | computé | ||||||
| person | singular | plural | |||||
| first | second | third | first | second | third | ||
| indicative | je (j’) | tu | il | nous | vous | ils | |
| simple tenses | present | compute | computes | compute | computons | computez | computent |
| imperfect | computais | computais | computait | computions | computiez | computaient | |
| past historic1 | computai | computas | computa | computâmes | computâtes | computèrent | |
| future | computerai | computeras | computera | computerons | computerez | computeront | |
| conditional | computerais | computerais | computerait | computerions | computeriez | computeraient | |
| compound tenses | present perfect | Use the present tense of avoir followed by the past participle | |||||
| pluperfect | Use the imperfect tense of avoir followed by the past participle | ||||||
| past anterior1 | Use the past historic tense of avoir followed by the past participle | ||||||
| future perfect | Use the future tense of avoir followed by the past participle | ||||||
| conditional perfect | Use the conditional tense of avoir followed by the past participle | ||||||
| subjunctive | que je (j’) | que tu | qu’il | que nous | que vous | qu’ils | |
| simple tenses | present | compute | computes | compute | computions | computiez | computent |
| imperfect1 | computasse | computasses | computât | computassions | computassiez | computassent | |
| compound tenses | past | Use the present subjunctive of avoir followed by the past participle | |||||
| pluperfect1 | Use the imperfect subjunctive of avoir followed by the past participle | ||||||
| imperative | – | tu | – | nous | vous | – | |
| — | compute | — | computons | computez | — | ||
| 1literary tenses | |||||||
See also
Anagrams
Italian
Etymology
English
Pronunciation
- IPA: /komˈpjuter/, SAMPA: /kom"pjuter/
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Audio (file) - Hyphenation: com‧pù‧ter
Noun
computer m. inv.
- computer (calculating device)
Latin
Verb
computer
- first-person singular present passive subjunctive of computō
Romansch
Etymology
From English.
Noun
computer m. (plural computers)
Synonyms
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A computer is a programmable machine designed to automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem. An important class of computer operations on some computing platforms is the accepting of input from human operators and the output of results formatted for human consumption. The interface between the computer and the human operator is known as the user interface.
A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions. Computers take many forms, from early room-sized complexes to modern personal computers (PCs) and personal digital assistants (PDAs) to tiny embedded systems that add sophisticated capabilities to other devices like toys and appliances.
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