# IBM

/ˈaɪˌbiˌɛm/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ibm
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. technology company

noun · CEFR B2

Stands for International Business Machines. A large American company that makes computers and software.

For teachers: Abbreviation for International Business Machines. A major multinational technology corporation known for hardware, software, and consulting services.

- My uncle worked for IBM as a software engineer for thirty years.
- IBM played a pivotal role in the mid-twentieth century by developing the mainframe systems that powered global banking and research.

### 2. geological arc

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc. A long chain of volcanoes and islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc. A convergent plate boundary and volcanic arc system in the western Pacific.

- Scientists study the IBM arc to understand how the Earth's crust forms.
- The IBM subduction zone provides a unique natural laboratory for geologists to observe the initiation of island arc volcanism.

### 3. medical condition

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for inclusion body myositis. A rare disease that causes muscles to become weak over time.

For teachers: Abbreviation for inclusion body myositis. An inflammatory muscle disease characterized by progressive weakness and wasting, typically in older adults.

- The doctor ran several tests to see if the patient had IBM.
- Patients diagnosed with IBM often experience difficulty with fine motor tasks and frequent tripping due to weakened leg muscles.

## Examples

- He works as a software engineer at IBM.
- Many large banks still rely on IBM systems to process millions of financial transactions every day.
- The transition of IBM from a hardware-focused manufacturer to a global leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence illustrates the rapid evolution of the late twentieth-century tech sector.

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