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Definitions

mainframe

[meyn-freym] / ˈmeɪnˌfreɪm /
NOUN
central processing unit
Synonyms
WEAK
CPU central processor processor
NOUN
computer
Synonyms
STRONGEST
PC data processor desktop computer personal computer
STRONG
CPU central processing unit device handheld computer laptop machine micro microcomputer mini minicomputer notebook notebook computer processor tablet
WEAK
abacus artificial intelligence brain electronic brain number cruncher thinking machine
NOUN
data processor
Synonyms
WEAK
CPU Macintosh PC calculator laptop mac microcomputer number cruncher personal computer word processor
NOUN
management
Synonyms
STRONGEST
administration authority board executive
STRONG
bosses brass directorate directors employers execs executives head upstairs
WEAK
executive suite front office micro management person upstairs top brass
Antonyms
WEAK
employees mismanagement

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

IBM suffered its worst day in 25 years, compounded by Anthropic’s announcement that its Claude AI could modernize COBOL, the programming language holding IBM’s mainframe empire together.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

In February, IBM stock posted its worst decline in 25 years—tumbling sharply on news that Anthropic had released AI tools that could help with modernizing Cobol, a programming language mainly run on IBM mainframe computers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

“The mainframe serves as the backbone for the world’s largest enterprises managing the most complex and critical workloads,” Woodring wrote, ticking off banking systems, airline reservations, and transaction processing as a few examples.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

“The idea of shifting off of mainframe is not a new concept,” Daryanani concluded.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

But Pembroke knew exactly whom to call: those high school kids from Lakeside who had been running up thousands of hours of computer time on the ISI mainframe.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.