floating-point unit

noun

A microprocessor that performs floating-point arithmetic. In older models of computer the FPU was not integrated into the central processing unit, but rather as a coprocessor if included at all.

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Meanings

nounfloating-point unit (plural floating-point units)

plural floating-point units · alternative FPU · alternative floating point processor

  1. computer hardwareA microprocessor that performs floating-point arithmetic. In older models of computer the FPU was not integrated into the central processing unit, but rather as a coprocessor if included at all.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
floating point processor

Translations

Finnish liukulukuyksikkö
  • liukulukuyksikköcomputing
French unité de calcul en virgule flottante
  • unité de calcul en virgule flottantecomputing
Cite this entry
APA

floating-point unit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/floating-point%20unit

MLA

“floating-point unit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/floating-point%20unit. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “floating-point unit,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/floating-point%20unit.

Source: floating-point unit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.