Hardware \Hard"ware`\ (h[aum]rd"w[^a]r`), n.
   1. Ware made of metal, as cutlery, kitchen utensils, and the
      like; ironmongery.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Any of the physical objects used in carrying out an
      activity, in contrast to the knowledge, skill, or theory
      required to perform the activity; mostly used
      collectively.
      [PJC]

   3. Specifically: (Computers) The sum of all the physical
      objects, such as the electrical, mechanical, and
      electronic devices which comprise a computer system; as,
      the typical PC hardware suite consists of a mainboard and
      a number of peripherals such as hard drives and speakers,
      connected by adapter cards, but the input and output from
      users occurs mostly through the keyboard and monitor;
      contrasted with software, the programs executed by the
      computer.
      [PJC]

   4. Specifically: (Military) The weapons, transport, and other
      physical objects used in conducting a war.
      [PJC]

   5. (Slang) Weapons, especially handguns, carried on the
      person; as, check your hardware at the door before
      entering.
      [PJC]

	

	hardware
    n 1: major items of military weaponry (as tanks or missile)
    2: instrumentalities (tools or implements) made of metal [syn:
       hardware, ironware]
    3: (computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and
       electrical components making up a computer system [syn:
       hardware, computer hardware] [ant: computer software,
       package, software, software package, software
       program, software system]

	

	46 Moby Thesaurus words for "hardware":
   appliances, armaments, arms, brassware, chinaware, clayware,
   components, computer, computer hardware, computer unit, copperware,
   devices, dinnerware, durable goods, durables, earthenware,
   electronic brain, electronic computer, enamelware, fixtures,
   flatware, glassware, graniteware, hard goods, hollow ware,
   housefurnishings, housewares, information machine, ironmongery,
   ironware, kitchenware, machinery, materiel, metalware, munitions,
   ovenware, silverware, sporting goods, stoneware, tableware,
   thinking machine, tinware, tools, tools and machinery, white goods,
   woodenware

	

	hardware

    The physical, touchable, material parts of a
   computer or other system.  The term is used to distinguish
   these fixed parts of a system from the more changeable
   software or data components which it executes, stores, or
   carries.

   Typical computer hardware consists of electronic devices
   (CPU, memory, display) with some electromechanical parts
   (keyboard, printer, disk drives, tape drives,
   loudspeakers) for input, output and storage.  Completely
   non-electronic (mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic,
   biological) computers have also been conceived of and built.

   See also firmware, wetware.

   (1997-01-23)