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GPU

1 American  
[gey-pey-oo, jee-pee-yoo] / ˈgeɪˌpeɪˈu, ˈdʒiˌpiˈyu /
Or G.P.U.

abbreviation

  1. (in the Soviet Union) the secret-police organization (1922–23) functioning under the NKVD.


GPU 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. General Postal Union. See Universal Postal Union.


GPU 3 American  

abbreviation

Computers.
  1. graphics processing unit: a secondary processor usually dedicated to performing the calculations necessary for producing computer graphics, lessening the burden on the main processor.


GPU British  

abbreviation

  1. State Political Administration; the Soviet police and secret police from 1922 to 1923

"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

Etymology

Origin of GPU1

From Russian G(osudárstvennoe) p(olitícheskoe) u(pravlénie) “state political directorate”

Origin of GPU3

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

However, the firm cut its full-year estimates for both CPU and AI graphics processing unit, or GPU, revenues.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Cerebras makes processors for advanced AI models, with its chips better suited for inference workloads than GPU chips.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Given that most of the longer-term revenue targets for AMD revolve around its GPUs, Moore said he thinks investors will continue to look for signs of improvements on the GPU front.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

In data centers, electricity is often distributed at 48 volts, while GPU processors typically require much lower voltages, usually between 1 and 5 volts.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

GPU purchases could cost Naver more than 1 trillion won in 2026, up from 700 billion won in 2025, he reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026