CPU

abbreviation or noun

ˌsē-(ˌ)pē-ˈyü 

variants or less commonly cpu

plural CPUs also cpus

: the component of a computer system that performs the system's basic operations (such as processing data), that exchanges data with the system's memory or peripherals, and that manages the system's other components

The speed at which the central processing unit (CPU) runs, measured in megahertz, is a good indicator of a computer's power …

—Brad Hill

These [gaming] consoles require operating systems and CPUs that are different from desktop computers.

—finance.yahoo.com

—often used before another noun

CPU speed/performance

called also central processing unit, processor

Examples of CPU in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rise of personal agents like Meta's Muse and startup Instinct caused analysts to hike their 2030 targets for the size of the central processing unit (CPU) market, with AMD as the primary beneficiary. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

This model has a 14-inch OLED screen, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a capable Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU. — Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026

The PCMark 10 Storage test doesn’t heavily press the CPU, but the SSD is pushed to its limit during this test. — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026

Researchers typically devise decoding algorithms that run either on CPU’s, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), or a field-programmable gate array to analyze these syndromes and then apply a correction to the computation. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

central processing unit

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cpu

noun

ˌsē-ˌpē-ˈyü 

often capitalized C&P&U

: the part of a computer that does most of the data processing

Etymology

central processing unit