Mainframe (Noun)
Meaning 1
(computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing; "the CPU and the memory form the central part of a computer to which the peripherals are attached".
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The company still relies on its old mainframe to manage employee payroll and benefits.
- In the 1960s, mainframes were massive machines that took up entire rooms and required air conditioning units to keep them cool.
- To access the network, users had to log in through the mainframe using their secure credentials.
- The university's computer science department was famous for its giant mainframe that had been built by students over several decades.
- The bulk of the work involved transferring data from the old mainframe to new cloud-based servers for better performance and cost efficiency.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A large digital computer serving 100-400 users and occupying a special air-conditioned room.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The company's IT department was responsible for maintaining the mainframe that supported their entire business operation.
- Mainframe computers were widely used in the 1970s and 1980s for large-scale data processing and management.
- Due to the noise and heat it generated, the mainframe was located in a specially designated area on the lower floor.
- The mainframe was upgraded every five years to keep up with the increasing demands of the growing company.
- The mainframe's processing power and storage capacity were superior to anything the company's individual employees' workstations could offer.