CPU

abbreviation or noun

variants or less commonly cpu
plural CPUs also cpus
: the component of a computer system that performs the system's basic operations (such as processing data), that exchanges data with the system's memory or peripherals, and that manages the system's other components
The speed at which the central processing unit (CPU) runs, measured in megahertz, is a good indicator of a computer's power …Brad Hill
These [gaming] consoles require operating systems and CPUs that are different from desktop computers.finance.yahoo.com
often used before another noun
CPU speed/performance

called also central processing unit, processor

Examples of CPU in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The company says the CPU and GPU are both 20 percent faster than the M2. Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024 For 28 years, GIMPS volunteers relied on CPU power to use the organization’s original software. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Oct. 2024 This 2-in-1 HP laptop gives you a lot of bang for your buck, including an Intel Ultra 7 CPU, a 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. Jade Chung-Lee, PCMAG, 18 Oct. 2024 The fifth-generation EPYC CPU offers up to 192 efficiency cores for web apps and up to 192 cores for performance-demanding apps. Karl Freund, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 One of Intel’s key efficiency improvements was getting rid of separate memory sticks or chips, baking it into the CPU package instead. Sean Hollister, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2024 These are all coordinated by a 64 MHz ARM CPU, which aggregates and processes all this data. Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024 For years, engineers and attackers alike have been most focused on potential vulnerabilities in a computer's central processing unit (CPU) and have optimized for efficiency on GPUs, leaning on them for raw processing power. Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 9 Aug. 2024 When run on systems without those graphics cards, the system’s CPU is used to create video recordings which may cause a noticeable performance impact on those systems. Jay Peters, The Verge, 26 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

central processing unit

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of CPU was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near CPU

Cite this Entry

“CPU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/CPU. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

often capitalized C&P&U
: the part of a computer that does most of the data processing
Etymology

central processing unit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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