noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
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"The scientists used an IBM mainframe computer to make their calculations."
A large, powerful computer able to manage very many simultaneous tasks and communicate with very many connected terminals; used by large, complex organizations (such as banks and supermarkets) where continuously sustained operation is vital.
Common synonyms include: c.p.u., cabinet, central computer, central processing unit, central processor, central structure.
The scientists used an IBM mainframe computer to make their calculations.
Pronounced /ˈmeɪnˌfɹeɪm/.
From main + frame.