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. Compare software.
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. See software
   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

/ härd′wâr′ /

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 fordef 3; hard + ware ¹

Example Sentences

Founded in 2012, the hardware startup most recently raised a $20 million Series D in early 2019, bringing its total funding up to just shy of $50 million.

From TechCrunch

By 1960, the company had more than doubled in size, to seven people, and they sold an average of 45 cases per day from the trunks of their cars to hardware and sporting-goods stores in the San Diego area.

From Popular-Science

The mechanisms that allow it to learn are directly embedded in its hardware structure—no extra AI software required.

From Singularity Hub 

Swarm prices out its orbital IoT network’s hardware and services

From TechCrunch

Apple announced Ternus will replace Riccio as the head of hardware engineering overall.

From Ars Technica

A Michigan-based company that supplies fasteners to the hardware store, home center, and industrial markets.

From The Daily Beast

A plastic factory, a hardware supplier, and shipping–and-receiving giants like Fed-Ex and DHL are neighboring businesses.

From The Daily Beast

Williams sold hardware manufactured by a legitimate company, said Sargent, who took a 25 to 30 percent commission.

From The Daily Beast

Not only in terms of the politics on the ground, but in terms of material and hardware.

From The Daily Beast

Amiigo is a wrist and shoelace hardware combo, paired a smartphone app that crunches movement data in the cloud.

From The Daily Beast

They did so, and Crane looked up at the fat hardware man with eyes that were not quite so contemptuous.

From Project Gutenberg

Scattergood Baines sat on the porch of his hardware store and looked down Coldriver Valley.

From Project Gutenberg

He went back to his hardware store and waited—waited for Crane and Keith to start their inevitable logging operations.

From Project Gutenberg

It cost him something like half a dollar an acre, and Landers considered he had robbed the hardware merchant of a machine.

From Project Gutenberg

He had simply gone along selling hardware in his own way—and selling a good deal of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• housewares
• plumbing