4 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Computer \Com*put"er\, n.
One who computes.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
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}]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
Computer
<publication> A journal of the {IEEE Computer Society}.
(1995-03-10)
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
computer
<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)