microcomputer

M3I1C3R1O1C3O1M3P3U1T1E1R1

noun

A computer designed around a microprocessor, smaller than a minicomputer or a mainframe.

Less commonScrabble 23

Meanings

nounmicrocomputer (plural microcomputers)

plural microcomputers

  1. historicalcomputer hardwareA computer designed around a microprocessor, smaller than a minicomputer or a mainframe.

    The operation has installed nine Cygnet CoSystems, computerphones that send memos, letters, and even whole files from one microcomputer to another.

    1985, Micro Communications
    2 more examples

    In recent years, it had become the hallmark of the scientist, much as the stethoscope was that of the physician and the microcomputer that of the statistician.

    1956 July 7, Isaac Asimov, Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, volume 11, New York: Fantasy House, page 9

    In time of course, things became more efficient, with newer machines which could cope with large amounts of data - the microcomputers had 64 kilobytes of memory; your mobile phone has vastly more capacity.

    2021, Pat Manser, More Than Words: The Making of the Macquarie Dictionary, Sydney: Macquarie Dictionary, page 83
  2. dateduncommoncomputer hardwareA microprocessor that is based on a single chip.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna small digital computer based on a microprocessor and designed to be used by one person at a time

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From micro- + computer. First use appears c. 1956. See cite below.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian микрокомпютър
  • микрокомпютър (mikrokompjutăr)computer designed around a microprocessor
Chinese Mandarin 微型計算機 /微型计算机, 微電腦 /微电脑
  • 微型計算機 /微型计算机 (wēixíng jìsuànjī)computer designed around a microprocessor
  • 微電腦 /微电脑 (wēidiànnǎo)computer designed around a microprocessor
  • 微機 /微机 (wēijī)computer designed around a microprocessor
Czech mikropočítač
  • mikropočítačcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Estonian mikroarvuti
  • mikroarvuticomputer designed around a microprocessor
Finnish mikrotietokone, mikro
  • mikrotietokonecomputer designed around a microprocessor
  • mikrocomputer designed around a microprocessor
French microordinateur
  • microordinateurcomputer designed around a microprocessor
German Mikrorechner
  • Mikrorechnercomputer designed around a microprocessor
Greek μικροϋπολογιστής
  • μικροϋπολογιστής (mikroÿpologistís)computer designed around a microprocessor
Hebrew מחשב זעיר, מיקרומחשב
  • מחשב זעיר (makhshév zaír)computer designed around a microprocessor
  • מיקרומחשב (mikromakhshév)computer designed around a microprocessor
Hindi सूक्ष्मसंगणक
  • सूक्ष्मसंगणक (sūkṣmasaṅgaṇak)computer designed around a microprocessor
Hungarian mikroszámítógép
  • mikroszámítógépcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Indonesian komputer mikro
  • komputer mikrocomputer designed around a microprocessor
Irish micriríomhaire
  • micriríomhairecomputer designed around a microprocessor
Italian microcomputer, microcalcolatore
  • microcomputercomputer designed around a microprocessor
  • microcalcolatorecomputer designed around a microprocessor
  • microelaboratorecomputer designed around a microprocessor
Korean 초소형 전자계산기
  • 초소형 전자계산기 (chosohyeong jeonjagyesan'gi)computer designed around a microprocessor
Lithuanian mikrokompiuteris
  • mikrokompiuteriscomputer designed around a microprocessor
Māori rorohiko iti
  • rorohiko iticomputer designed around a microprocessor
Norwegian mikrodatamaskin
  • mikrodatamaskincomputer designed around a microprocessor
Polish mikrokomputer
  • mikrokomputercomputer designed around a microprocessor
Portuguese microcomputador
  • microcomputadorcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Romanian microcomputer, microcalculator
  • microcomputercomputer designed around a microprocessor
  • microcalculatorcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Russian микрокомпью́тер
  • микрокомпью́тер (mikrokompʹjútɛr)computer designed around a microprocessor
Spanish microcomputadora
  • microcomputadoracomputer designed around a microprocessor
Swedish mikrodator
  • mikrodatorcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Tagalog mikpanuos
  • mikpanuoscomputer designed around a microprocessor
Tamil நுண்கணிப்பொறி
  • நுண்கணிப்பொறி (nuṇkaṇippoṟi)computer designed around a microprocessor
Turkish mikrobilgisayar
  • mikrobilgisayarcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Vietnamese máy tính nhỏ, máy vi tính
  • máy tính nhỏcomputer designed around a microprocessor
  • máy vi tínhcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Welsh microgyfrifiadur
  • microgyfrifiadurcomputer designed around a microprocessor
Cite this entry
APA

microcomputer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microcomputer

MLA

“microcomputer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microcomputer. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “microcomputer,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microcomputer.

Source: microcomputer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.