[W/K] :: computer

  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: 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]

  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
       
           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)