Computer \Com*put"er\ (k[o^]m*p[=u]t"[~e]r), n.
   1. One who computes.

   2. (Computers) an electronic device for performing
      calculations automatically. It consists of a clock to
      provide voltage pulses to synchronize the operations of
      the devices within the computer, a central processing
      unit, where the arithmetical and logical operations are
      performed on data, a random-access memory, where the
      programs and data are stored for rapid access, devices to
      input data and output results, and various other
      peripheral devices of widely varied function, as well as
      circuitry to support the main operations.

   Note: This modern sense of computer comprises the
         stored-program computers, in which multiple steps in a
         calculation may be stored within the computer itself as
         instructions in a program, and are then executed by
         the computer without further intervention of the
         operator. Different types of computer are variously
         called analog computer, number cruncher,
         number-cruncher, digital computer, and pari-mutuel
         machine, totalizer, totaliser, totalizator,
         totalisator.

   Syn: data processor, electronic computer, information
        processing system.
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

   3. (Computers) same as digital computer.
      [PJC]

	

	electronic device \electronic device\ n.
   a device depending on the principles of electronics and using
   the manipulation of electron flow for its operation.
   [PJC]

   Note: Numerous electronic devices are in daily use, among
         them the television, radio, computer, robot,
         transmitter, receiver, VCR, CD player, etc.
         [PJC]

	

	computer
    n 1: a machine for performing calculations automatically [syn:
         computer, computing machine, computing device, data
         processor, electronic computer, information processing
         system]
    2: an expert at calculation (or at operating calculating
       machines) [syn: calculator, reckoner, figurer,
       estimator, computer]

	

	50 Moby Thesaurus words for "computer":
   IBM machine, IDA, Teleplotter, Telereader, abacist, accountant,
   actuary, adder, analog computer, analytical control unit, analyzer,
   bookkeeper, calculator, coder, collator, compiler,
   computer hardware, computer unit, data processor, decoder,
   detector, differential, differential analyzer, digital computer,
   digital graph plotter, divider, electronic brain,
   electronic computer, estimator, figurer, hardware,
   information machine, integrator, memory tubes, multiplier,
   phase discriminator, position coder, printer, printing calculator,
   receptor, reckoner, relay, selective calculator, selector,
   statistician, storage unit, telecomputer, thinking machine,
   transmitter, tristimulus computer

	

	Computer

    A journal of the IEEE Computer Society.

   (1995-03-10)

	

	computer
computing

    A machine that can be programmed to manipulate
   symbols.  Computers can perform complex and repetitive
   procedures quickly, precisely and reliably and can quickly
   store and retrieve large amounts of data.

   The physical components from which a computer is constructed
   (electronic circuits and input/output devices) are known as
   "hardware".  Most computers have four types of hardware
   component: CPU, input, output and memory.  The CPU (central
   processing unit) executes programs ("software") which tell
   the computer what to do.  Input and output (I/O) devices allow
   the computer to communicate with the user and the outside
   world.  There are several kinds of memory - fast, expensive,
   short term memory (e.g. RAM) to hold intermediate results,
   and slower, cheaper, long-term memory (e.g. magnetic disk and
   magnetic tape) to hold programs and data between jobs.

   See also analogue computer.

   (1995-03-10)