computer
/kəmˈpjuː.tə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A machine that stores, processes, and shows information. People use it for writing, browsing, coding, games, and many other tasks.
- I bought a new computer for work.
- The computer is running very slowly.
- She learned coding on her computer.
Adinary Nuance
A computer is the general machine, while a laptop is a portable computer and a desktop is a non-portable one. In everyday English, people say computer when they do not want to name the type. In business and school writing, computer is the safest broad word.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- máy tính
- Spanish
- computadora
- Chinese
- 电脑
- Japanese
- コンピュータ
- Korean
- 컴퓨터
Etymology
Computer comes from the Latin computare, meaning “to count” or “to calculate.” In English, it first referred to a person who did calculations, then to a machine in the 20th century.
Common phrases
computer screencomputer programcomputer sciencecomputer lab
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is computer a common word in English?
- Yes. It is a very common everyday word in school, work, and home use.
- What is the difference between computer and laptop?
- A laptop is a computer you can carry. A computer can also mean a desktop machine.
- Can I say computer for a phone or tablet?
- Usually no. Phone and tablet are different devices, even though they also compute.
- Is computer used in formal writing?
- Yes. It is neutral and works well in formal and informal English.