motherboard

American  

[muhth-er-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈmʌð ərˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

Computers.

1. a rigid, slotted board upon which other boards that contain the basic circuitry of a computer or of a computer component can be mounted.

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motherboard British  

/ ˈmʌðəˌbɔːd /

noun

1. (in an electronic system) a printed circuit board through which signals between all other boards are routed

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motherboard Scientific  

/ mŭth′ər-bôrd′ /

1. The main circuit board of a computer, usually containing the central processing unit and main system memory as well as circuitry that controls the disk drives, keyboard, monitor, and other peripheral devices.

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Etymology

Origin of motherboard

mother ¹ + board

Example Sentences

She did not answer their questions and stood there like a robot whose motherboard had shorted out.

From Salon

Entertainment Weekly’s Leah Greenblatt wrote in her review that, “This is not the morose, carnage-soaked horror of dank basements and clammy night terrors; most of the movie happens in bright daylight, every maniacal head tilt, ungodly hip swivel, and murder-by-gardening-tool calibrated for screams that end not with a gasp but a giggle. M3GAN came to play, and possibly reboot her motherboard for a sequel. Are you not entertained?”

From Seattle Times

Under its former name as X-Mode, Outlogic is also the company that was exposed in a 2020 investigation by Motherboard’s Joseph Cox for selling users’ personal data to the U.S. military.

From Salon

At the back of the workshop, Lukas, a technician, checks out the motherboard of an old laptop.

From BBC

In photos Awni shared on his own Facebook page, he stands in front of a blackboard holding up a computer motherboard to fellow students, as he leads a technology lesson organised as part of a "little teachers" scheme.

From BBC

Related Words

• microchip