mainframe
noun
main·frame
ˈmān-ˌfrām 
1
: a large, powerful computer that can handle many tasks concurrently and is usually used commercially
… the million-dollar mainframe computers that took up entire floors of corporate premises …—
John Derbyshire
John Derbyshire2
dated
: a computer with its cabinet and internal circuits especially when considered separately from any peripherals connected to the computer
Examples of mainframe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The company’s infrastructure division, which includes mainframe computers, posted a 6% decline in revenue to $2.89 billion, higher than the $2.76 billion consensus.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
Low-profile keyboards seem to be growing in popularity as regular profile mechanical keyboards are reminiscent of the clunky old keyboards used on mainframe computer terminals in the 1970s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Each one was connected to a different mainframe computer.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025
Computers mainly belonged to kit hobbyists — the early adopters who Gates was trying to persuade to become paying customers — or to the academic and business institutions that could afford much more powerful room-sized mainframes.
—Monica Nickelsburg, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
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Jordan Novet, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
Low-profile keyboards seem to be growing in popularity as regular profile mechanical keyboards are reminiscent of the clunky old keyboards used on mainframe computer terminals in the 1970s.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Each one was connected to a different mainframe computer.
—ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025
Computers mainly belonged to kit hobbyists — the early adopters who Gates was trying to persuade to become paying customers — or to the academic and business institutions that could afford much more powerful room-sized mainframes.
—Monica Nickelsburg, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mainframe
Cite this Entry
“Mainframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainframe. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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mainframe
noun
main·frame
ˈmān-ˌfrām
: a large fast computer that can do many jobs at once
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