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What is the difference between calculator and computer?

calculator | computer | Synonyms |

Computer is a synonym of calculator.



As nouns the difference between calculator and computer

is that calculator is a mechanical or electronic device that performs mathematical calculations while computer is a person employed to perform computations; one who computes.

calculator

Noun

(en noun)
  • A mechanical or electronic device that performs mathematical calculations.
  • (dated) A person who performs mathematical calculation
  • A person who calculates (in the sense of scheming).
  • (obsolete) A set of mathematical tables.
  • Synonyms

    * (electronic device) electronic calculator, pocket calculator * (mechanical device) adding machine * (person who performs mathematical calculations) computer (dated) * (person who schemes) plotter, schemer * (mathematical tables) ready reckoner, tables

    Derived terms

    * electronic calculator * pocket calculator

    See also

    * ready reckoner * slide rule * tables * (commonslite) ----

    computer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (now, rare, chiefly, historical) A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.
  • * 1927 , J. B. S. Haldane, Possible Worlds and Other Essays , page 173
  • Only a few years ago Mr. Powers, an American computer , disproved a hypothesis about prime numbers which had held the field for more than 250 years.
  • * 2003 , (Bill Bryson), A Short History of Nearly Everything , BCA, page 116:
  • One Harvard computer , Annie Jump Cannon, used her repetitive acquaintance with the stars to devise a system of stellar classifications so practical that it is still in use today.
  • by restriction, a male computer, where the female computer is called a computress
  • A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large amounts of data very quickly; now especially, a small one for personal or home use employed for manipulating text or graphics, accessing the Internet, or playing games or media.
  • Synonyms

    * (programmable device that performs logical operations) automatic data processing machine, processor, 'puter (informal), box (slang), machine, calculator, portable computer, laptop * See also

    Hyponyms

    * (programmable device that performs logical operations) desktop, laptop * (a person employed to perform computations) computress (f)

    Antonyms

    * (a person employed to perform computations) computress (f) (when "computer" is used to represent the masculine form)

    Derived terms

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    See also

    * chip * data processing * desktop * hardware * laptop * mainframe * microprocessor 1000 English basic words ----