mainframe
noun
main·frame
ˈmān-ˌfrām 
1
: a large, powerful computer that can handle many tasks concurrently and is usually used commercially
… the million-dollar mainframe computers that took up entire floors of corporate premises …—
John Derbyshire
John Derbyshire2
dated
: a computer with its cabinet and internal circuits especially when considered separately from any peripherals connected to the computer
Examples of mainframe in a Sentence
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Then, much like the tech tsunami that rendered mainframe computers obsolete in the '80s and '90s, the space industry experienced its own revolution.
—Charles Beames, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
During a time when computers were running extremely complex code, Cobol allowed early mainframe computers to essentially speak the same language, eliminating the need to manually program the same data-processing applications into every new machine.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Dec. 2024
Think about how materials can eventually be recycled. 25 Water Street, formerly a box of mainframe computers, soon to be apartments.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2024
Digging through the Amazon Q mainframe modernization functions in more detail, this tool handles code analysis, planning and application refactoring.
—Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mainframe 
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Charles Beames, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
During a time when computers were running extremely complex code, Cobol allowed early mainframe computers to essentially speak the same language, eliminating the need to manually program the same data-processing applications into every new machine.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Dec. 2024
Think about how materials can eventually be recycled. 25 Water Street, formerly a box of mainframe computers, soon to be apartments.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2024
Digging through the Amazon Q mainframe modernization functions in more detail, this tool handles code analysis, planning and application refactoring.
—Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mainframe
Dictionary Entries Near mainframe
Cite this Entry
“Mainframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainframe. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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mainframe
noun
main·frame
ˈmān-ˌfrām
: a large fast computer that can do many jobs at once
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