What does "computer" mean?
A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.
Computer
/kəmˈpjuːtə/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.
- Grammar: computer is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: calculator, computing device, data processor, electronic computer.
- Useful contrasts: machine, manual device, notebook.
- Usage evidence: My computer has got to be useful for something.
How to use "computer"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "computer" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "computer" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "computer" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "computer" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "computer" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "calculator" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "computer", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person employed to perform computations; one who computes. archaic, historical
"I haue read the truest computer of Times, and the best Arithmetician that euer breathed, and he reduceth thy dayes into a short number: The daies of Man are threescore and ten."
- 2 a machine for performing calculations automatically wordnet
- 3 A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.; A male computer. archaic, historical
"Coordinate term: (female) computress"
- 4 an expert at calculation (or at operating calculating machines) wordnet
- 5 A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large amounts of data very quickly; now especially, a small one for personal or home use employed for manipulating text or graphics, accessing the Internet, or playing games or media.
"I spend around 6 hours a day at the computer."
Verb
- 1 To use a computer. intransitive, nonstandard, rare
"Cool he was computering, though. My dad, who is only in his 60's (mom too) thinks he is too busy to get connected to the internet. Oh well. More bandwidth for the rest of us, huh?"
- 2 To send via computer. nonstandard, rare, transitive
"They had immediately computered the description out to the scores of law enforcement agencies in Southern California."
- 3 To transfer onto a computer; to computerize. nonstandard, rare, transitive
"I know there are storage warehouses in New York and Virginia and all over the place, St. Louis, and many other places, that keep these things. I think this is a very fertile area for this committee, and perhaps computering it, or microfilm preservation, or things of that sort."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"My computer has got to be useful for something."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "computer"?
Common synonyms include: calculator, computing device, data processor, electronic computer, 'puter, abacist.
How do you use "computer" in a sentence?
My computer has got to be useful for something.
How do you pronounce "computer"?
Pronounced /kəmˈpjuːtə/.
Etymology
From compute + -er. Doublet of cantore, counter, and kontor. First sense first appears c. 1613 in the works of the poet Richard Brathwait. Second sense first appears c. 1897 in the magazine Engineering.