Computer equipment and parts

an AGP

a circuit board in a computer that makes the computer work faster by adding a faster central processing unit

ADC (noun)

analog-to-digital converter: a piece of equipment that changes analog information into a digital form that can be used by a computer

A drive (noun)

on old computers, the part of the computer that you put a floppy disk into

AGP (noun)

accelerated graphics port: a place in a computer for connecting a circuit board that allows the computer to quickly show images that have height and depth

auxiliary device (noun)

a piece of equipment that you can connect to your computer and use with it, for example a printer

base hardware (noun)

the features that a computer must have in order to run a particular piece of software

bridgeware (noun)

computer equipment or software that makes changing from one computer system to another easier, for example by changing the file format

bus (noun)

computing a set of wires that send information from one part of a computer system to another

cable modem (noun)

a high-speed modem that allows a computer to connect to the Internet through the same underground wires as cable television

card (noun)

computing a circuit board that fits inside a computer and connects to a particular piece of equipment such as a modem or computer screen

cathode ray tube (noun)

a piece of equipment in televisions and some computers that creates the image on the screen. A beam of high-energy electrons is directed toward the screen, where it makes different spots of color shine with light to make a picture.

CD burner (noun)

a CD writer

C drive (noun)

the main hard disk drive on a computer system

CD writer (noun)

a piece of equipment used for recording information onto CDs

central processing unit (noun)

a CPU in a computer

chip (noun)

a very small piece of silicon marked with electronic connections that is used in computers and other machines

CPU (noun)

a central processing unit: the part of a computer that controls what it does

CRT (abbreviation)

cathode ray tube

dataport (noun)

a part of a laptop computer into which you put a cable so that you can use the Internet

digital display (noun)

a computer screen that can only show a fixed number of colors and shades (=types) of gray

disk drive (noun)

the part of a computer that reads information from a disk or records information onto a disk

display (noun)

computing a computer screen or similar piece of equipment that shows information

docking station (noun)

a piece of equipment to which you can connect a portable computer temporarily, for example when you are traveling between different offices, so that you can use it like a PC

dongle (noun)

a piece of equipment that must be connected to a computer before a particular program can work

drive (noun)

computing the part of a computer that sends or receives information from a disk

Dvorak keyboard (noun)

a keyboard invented in 1936 with a different layout from the standard QWERTY keyboard

expansion card (noun)

a circuit board that makes a computer more powerful or able to do more things

expansion slot (noun)

a place on a computer where you can connect another piece of equipment to it and make it more powerful

fax-modem (noun)

a modem that allows a computer to send and receive faxes

flatbed scanner (noun)

a type of scanner that consists of a flat surface on which you put documents to be scanned

flat panel monitor (noun)

a very thin computer screen with a flat surface that you look at

graphics adapter (noun)

a part in a computer that changes software instructions into electrical signals that show images on a screen

graphics card (noun)

the part inside a computer that changes information into images

graphics tablet (noun)

a piece of equipment used for putting designs into a computer by drawing them with an electronic pen onto a special surface

hardware (noun)

computer equipment. Computer programs are called software

ink-jet printer (noun)

a type of printer for computers that prints using very small drops of ink

input (noun)

the connection on a computer or piece of electronic equipment where information enters it from another machine

input/output (noun)

equipment or software that controls the passage of information into and out of a computer or computer part

interface (noun)

computing a point in a computer system where information passes from one part of the system to another or from the computer to the person using it

interfacing (noun)

equipment or software that allows two computers or programs to interface

intermediate system (noun)

a piece of equipment that connects a network or user to the Internet

joypad (noun)

a small piece of equipment with buttons that you press to control the movement of the images on the screen in some computer games

joystick (noun)

an upright handle that you use to control objects on the screen in a computer game

KALQ keyboard (noun)

a keyboard with a split screen developed for use on tablets and large smartphones, which makes it easier to type mainly with your thumbs

keyboard (noun)

a piece of computer equipment with keys on it, used for putting information into a computer

keypad (noun)

a small keyboard, for example on a telephone, computer, or calculator

laser printer (noun)

a type of printer that you use with a computer, using light from a laser to make very clear letters and pictures

light pen (noun)

an object shaped like a pen and used for touching a computer screen to give instructions to the computer

machine (noun)

a computer

matrix (noun)

computing an arrangement of electronic parts in a computer circuit

microchip (noun)

a very small piece of silicon that contains the electronic connections for making a computer work

microprocessor (noun)

a piece of electronic equipment inside a computer that makes it work. It is often simply called a processor.

MIDI (noun)

musical instrument digital interface: a method of connecting a computer to an electronic musical instrument

modem (noun)

a piece of equipment that allows you to connect a computer to the Internet

monitor (noun)

a computer screen, or the part of a computer that contains the screen

monitor (noun)

a screen that shows pictures or information

motherboard (noun)

the main circuit board in a computer

mouse (noun)

computing a small object that you move in order to do things on a computer screen. When you press on a part of the mouse, you click on it. You also click on things on the computer screen itself, using a mouse

mouse button (noun)

one of the two or three parts of a computer mouse that you press to give an instruction to a computer

mousepad (noun)

the flat part on a laptop that you operate with your fingers to do things on a computer screen

mousepad (noun)

American a piece of smooth soft material that you put under a computer mouse so that it can move smoothly. The usual British word is mouse mat.

optical mouse (noun)

a computer mouse that uses light to see a change in position

optical pen (noun)

a small piece of electronic equipment that you move across a printed page in order to store the words either in its own memory or in your computer

parallel port (noun)

a connection between a computer and another piece of equipment, for example a printer, that uses more than one wire to carry information

PC (noun)

computing personal computer: a computer that is designed to be used by one person at home or in an office

PCMCIA (noun)

Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Adapter: a very small expansion board (=electronic part) for computers, especially laptops (=small computers that can be carried around)

pen (noun)

an electronic object similar to a pen that you can use with a computer

peripheral (noun)

a piece of equipment that you can connect to a computer, such as a printer

plasma screen (noun)

a type of television or computer screen made by putting a mixture of gases between two sheets of glass. This produces a very clear picture which can be looked at from almost any angle.

plug-in (noun)

a piece of software or hardware that you add to a computer to increase the range of things it can do

pointing device (noun)

a piece of equipment used for moving a cursor on a computer screen, for example a computer mouse

port (noun)

computing a part of a computer that you fit a cable into so that you can connect another piece of equipment to it

printer (noun)

a piece of equipment used for printing documents that you have created on a computer

printhead (noun)

a part of a computer printer that puts the letters, numbers, etc. on paper

processor (noun)

computing the part of a computer that controls and performs all its operations

QWERTY keyboard (noun)

the normal computer keyboard that is used for typing in the English language. Its top row of letters starts on the left with q, w, e, r, t, and y.

router (noun)

a piece of equipment or software that finds the best way of sending information between any two networks

scanner (noun)

a piece of equipment that is used for copying a picture or document into a computer

screen (noun)

the flat surface on a computer, television, or piece of electronic equipment where words and pictures are shown

screen (noun)

relating to a computer screen or to what you can see on it

SCSI (noun)

small computer system interface: a part on a computer that is designed for connecting it to another piece of equipment such as a printer

serial port (noun)

a part of a computer where you can connect another piece of equipment

silicon chip (noun)

a small piece of silicon with a set of complicated electronic connections on it, used especially in computers

sound card (noun)

a small circuit board inside a computer that changes information into sounds that you can hear, for example while you are playing a computer game

spudger (noun)

a tool used for opening the case of a computer, mobile phone, etc. and moving or removing small parts such as wires or SIM cards

stick (noun)

informal a joystick

stylus (noun)

an instrument used for writing in ancient times, or a similar modern instrument used for marking a computer screen

surge protector (noun)

a piece of equipment that is used for protecting computers from damage caused by a sudden increase in electrical power

terminal (noun)

computing a computer screen and a keyboard connected to a computer system

touch screen (noun)

a computer screen that you touch in order to choose what you want to see next

tower (noun)

computing a tall narrow box that contains the parts of a computer that do most of its work

trackball (noun)

a ball used instead of a mouse on a computer

tube (noun)

a cathode ray tube

USB device (noun)

a piece of equipment such as a printer, keyboard, or modem that can be connected to a computer through a USB port

USB port (noun)

a place on a computer where you can attach a cable for connecting a printer, keyboard, modem, etc.

VDT (noun)

video display terminal: the part of an early computer that contained the screen

VDU (noun)

visual display unit: a computer screen

video adapter (noun)

the part inside a computer that changes information into images

video card (noun)

the part inside a computer that changes information into images

visual display unit (noun)

a VDU

wrist support (noun)

a long object in front of a keyboard on which a user rests their wrists so that they do not develop problems with their arm or hand muscles

Synonyms and antonyms of Computer equipment and parts in American Thesaurus