| n. | 1. | Ware made of metal, as cutlery, kitchen utensils, and the like; ironmongery. |
| 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. | |
| 3. | (Computers) The sum of all the physical objects, such as the electrical, mechanical, and electronic devices which comprise a computer system; | |
| 4. | (Military) The weapons, transport, and other physical objects used in conducting a war. | |
| 5. | Weapons, especially handguns, carried on the person; |
| Noun | 1. | hardware - major items of military weaponry (as tanks or missile) |
| 2. | hardware - instrumentalities (tools or implements) made of metal Synonyms: ironware | |
| 3. | hardware - (computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system Synonyms: computer hardware Antonyms: software, software package, software system, package - (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory; "the market for software is expected to expand" |
| (hardware) | 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 changable
software or data components which it executes, stores, or
carries. Computer hardware typically consists chiefly of electronic devices (CPU, memory, display) with some electromechanical parts (keyboard, printer, disk drives, tape drives, loudspeakers) for input, output, and storage, though completely non-electronic (mechanical, electromechanical, hydraulic, biological) computers have also been conceived of and built. See also firmware, wetware. |