mainframe
/ˈmeɪnfreɪm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪnfreɪm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmān-ˌfrām/ (ame, mw)
mainframe — noun
- mainframesingular
- mainframesplural
1. a big computer system that businesses and large organisations use to run importa
a big computer system that businesses and large organisations use to run important programs, often accessed by many workers at once
The bank's mainframe processes thousands of customer transactions every minute.
collocation: mainframe processes transactions
The IT manager upgraded the mainframe to handle more users at peak hours.
collocation: upgrade the mainframe
Many airlines still rely on mainframes for their booking and check-in systems.
The hospital's mainframe crashed late at night, delaying all the morning appointments.
At the university, a new mainframe was installed to support research and student services.
- supercomputer
far more powerful; used for scientific research and complex calculations rather than business transactions
- server
a smaller, more general-purpose computer that handles specific tasks like web hosting or email
- host
a broader term for any computer that provides services to others on a network
- personal computer
designed for one user at a time, far less powerful