hardware

[hahrd-wair]

noun

1. metalware typically used for repair or construction, as screws, locks, hinges, or machine parts.

   The store has aisles for hardware, lumber, electrical equipment, and plumbing supplies.

2. the mechanical equipment necessary for conducting an activity, usually distinguished from the theory and design that make the activity possible.

3. Computers.,  the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical devices comprising a computer system, as the CPU, disk drives, keyboard, or screen.

4. military weapons and combat equipment.

   The tactical concern with retreat was military hardware falling into enemy hands.

5. Slang.,  a weapon or weapons carried on one's person.

   The rougher types were asked to check their hardware at the door.

6. Slang.

   1. medals or trophies.

      The Olympic athletes posed iconically with their new hardware fanned across their chests, or playfully pretended to bite their gold medals.

   2. jewelry, especially large or flashy pieces of jewelry.

      She loved her engagement ring, but she took it off at work—a bakery is no place for hardware like that.

hardware

/ ˈhɑːdˌwɛə /

noun

1. metal tools, implements, etc, esp cutlery or cooking utensils

2. computing the physical equipment used in a computer system, such as the central processing unit, peripheral devices, and memory Compare software

3. mechanical equipment, components, etc

4. heavy military equipment, such as tanks and missiles or their parts

5. informal,  a gun or guns collectively

hardware

1. A computer, its components, and its related equipment. Hardware includes disk drives, integrated circuits, display screens, cables, modems, speakers, and printers.

2. Compare software

hardware

1. The physical machinery and devices that make up a computer system. It is contrasted to software — the programs and instructions used to run the system.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hardware¹

First recorded in 1505–15; 1955–60 hardware for def. 3; hard + ware ¹

Example Sentences

Intel lacks a so-called AI accelerator product, a piece of specialized hardware meant to speed up AI workloads.

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OpenAI plans to design its own graphics processing units, or GPUs, which will allow it to integrate what it has learned from developing powerful artificial-intellligence models into the hardware that underpins future systems.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chinese authorities are cracking down on imports of semiconductors with the aim of stopping its domestic companies from buying Nvidia hardware, the Financial Times reported Friday, citing anonymous sources.

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They are critical to manufacturing everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to military hardware and renewable energy technology but produced and processed almost exclusively by China.

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They are critical to manufacturing everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to military hardware and renewable energy technology.

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Related Words

• housewares 
• plumbing