mainframe

mainframe

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From main +‎ frame.

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmeɪnˌfɹeɪm/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

mainframe (plural mainframes)

  1. (computer hardware) 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: maxicomputer, maxi (informal)
  2. (computer hardware) A computer chassis that hosts and interconnects modules that perform various tasks.
  3. The main frame of a vehicle etc., more commonly main frame.

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Italian: mainframe
  • Japanese: メインフレーム (meinfurēmu)
  • Portuguese: mainframe
  • Spanish: mainframe

Translations

French

Etymology

    Borrowed from English mainframe.

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    mainframe m (plural mainframes)

    1. (computer hardware) mainframe (large, powerful computer connected to terminals)

    Italian

    Etymology

      Borrowed from English mainframe.

      Noun

      mainframe m (plural mainframes)

      1. (computer hardware) mainframe (large, powerful computer connected to terminals)

      Further reading

      • mainframe in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

      Portuguese

      Etymology

      Unadapted borrowing from English mainframe.

      Noun

      mainframe m or f (plural mainframes)

      1. (computer hardware) mainframe (large, powerful computer connected to terminals)

      Further reading

      Spanish

      Etymology

      Unadapted borrowing from English mainframe.

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /meinˈfɾeim/ [mẽĩɱˈfɾẽĩm]
      • Rhymes: -eim

      Noun

      mainframe m (plural mainframes)

      1. (computer hardware) mainframe (large, powerful computer connected to terminals)

      Usage notes

      According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.