4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Computer  \Com*put"er\,  n. 
  One  who  computes. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  computer 
  n  1:  a  machine  for  performing  calculations  automatically  [syn:  {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  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  Computer 
 
    A  journal  of  the  {IEEE  Computer  Society}. 
 
  (1995-03-10) 
 
 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  computer 
 
    A  machine  that  can  be  programmed  to  manipulate 
  symbols.  Computers  can  perform  complex  and  repetative 
  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) 
 
 

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