HARDWARE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Hardware

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/hˈɑrdwˌɛr/ Listen

noun

Hardware n.

Ware made of metal, as cutlery, kitchen utensils, and the like; ironmongery.

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.

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.

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

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

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Etymology of 'Hardware'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Hardware" Quotes from Famous Books

... steamer just going out. It is loaded with hardware, kerosene, pine lumber, and codfish, and is probably bound ...

— A Little Journey to Puerto Rico - For Intermediate and Upper Grades • Marian M. George

... Mandalay. We have stopped three times at the river-side to-day. At each place a cascade of elegant people in heavenly colours came smiling down to our gangway planks, and when these were fixed, trooped on board; to buy purple velvet sandals, strips of silk, seeds, German hardware, American cigarettes, and goodness knows what else. I suppose I shall forget all these groups—and, colours, and expressions, in time—that is the gall and the wormwood of seeing beauty; I'd fain remember them longer and more vividly ...

— From Edinburgh to India & Burmah • William G. Burn Murdoch

... across the frontier into Darjeeling with all sorts of native products and may be seen in the market that is held every Sunday morning and during the weekdays in the bazaars of the city. After selling their goods they buy cottons, drugs, groceries, hardware and other European goods and take them back into their own country; but foreigners are not allowed to pass the line, and practically all of the trade of Thibet is monopolized by the Chinese, who sell the natives large quantities ...

— Modern India • William Eleroy Curtis

... est.); commodities—polished diamonds, citrus and other fruits, textiles and clothing, processed foods, fertilizer and chemical products, military hardware, electronics; partners—US, UK, FRG, France, ...

— The 1990 CIA World Factbook • United States. Central Intelligence Agency

... different to-day. Some attempt was made to clear up the rubbish, and fires were burning in a dozen places to get rid of it. Tents for the soldiers and some of the sufferers were put up in the smooth stretch of sand where a great, five story hardware store used to stand. The dead animals that were here and there in the debris were removed, to the benefit of the ...

— The Johnstown Horror • James Herbert Walker

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