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CPU

American  

abbreviation

Computers.

  1. central processing unit: the key component of a computer system, which contains the circuitry necessary to interpret and execute program instructions.

CPU British  

abbreviation

  1. central processing unit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
CPU Scientific  

  1. Abbreviation of central processing unit

CPU Cultural  

  1. An abbreviation for c entral p rocessing u nit. The “brain” of a computer, the CPU is where data manipulation actually takes place. The results of these manipulations are then stored in the computer memory. Microprocessors perform this function in personal computers.

Etymology

Origin of CPU

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nvidia, best known for its graphics processing units, has been seeing CPU traction as it pushes a full system of offerings for the data center.

From MarketWatch

While AMD’s CPU momentum is the hot story of the moment, investors still will be interested in what’s ahead for AMD’s GPUs, particularly as it concerns the company’s partnership with OpenAI.

From MarketWatch

In 2026, the Taiwanese company will probably gain market share in Nvidia’s Grace CPU, making it another growth driver after graphics cards.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Hey, Hank,” Ray says, and then whispers to the dog: “Enough, CPU.”

From Literature

If Intel is seeing high demand for processors but can’t manufacture enough chips to fulfill that demand, AMD’s results should benefit as its business accounts for the rest of the CPU market.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.