mainframe

mainframe main"frame` n. (Computers) 1. A large digital computer serving 100-400 users and occupying a special air-conditioned room. At any given point in development of computer technology, the mainframe will be faster, have large main memeory, and be more capable than a {minicomputer}, which will in turn be faster and more capable than a {personal computer}. The typical personal computer in 1999 is faster than a mainframe was in 1970.

Syn: mainframe computer. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

2. The board holding the CPU and the memory forming the central part of a computer to which the peripherals are attached. [WordNet 1.5]