MAINFRAME

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mainframe mean? 

• MAINFRAME (noun)
  The noun MAINFRAME has 2 senses:

1. a large digital computer serving 100-400 users and occupying a special air-conditioned room

2. (computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing

  Familiarity information: MAINFRAME used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAINFRAME (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A large digital computer serving 100-400 users and occupying a special air-conditioned room

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

mainframe; mainframe computer

Hypernyms ("mainframe" is a kind of...):

digital computer (a computer that represents information by numerical (binary) digits)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mainframe"):

supercomputer (a mainframe computer that is one of the most powerful available at a given time)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

C.P.U.; central processing unit; central processor; CPU; mainframe; processor

Context example:

the CPU and the memory form the central part of a computer to which the peripherals are attached

Hypernyms ("mainframe" is a kind of...):

electronic equipment (equipment that involves the controlled conduction of electrons (especially in a gas or vacuum or semiconductor))

computer hardware; hardware ((computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system)

Meronyms (parts of "mainframe"):

CPU board; mother board (the main circuit board for a computer)

Domain category:

computer science; computing (the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures)

Holonyms ("mainframe" is a part of...):

computer; computing device; computing machine; data processor; electronic computer; information processing system (a machine for performing calculations automatically)