mainframe — English Dictionary

Noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms

   maxicomputermaxi

2. A computer chassis that hosts and interconnects modules that perform various tasks.

3. The main frame of a vehicle etc., more commonly main frame.

Noun

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

   Synonyms

   mainframe computer

   Broader terms

   digital computer

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

   Synonyms

   central processing unitCPUC.P.U.central processorprocessor

   Broader terms

   electronic equipmenthardwarecomputer hardware

   Examples

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