English Reference
Noun

microprocessor

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˌmaɪkɹoʊˈpɹɑsɛsɝ/ UK /mˌaɪkɹəʊpɹˈəʊsɛsɐ/ mi·cro·pro·ces·sor UK spelling microprocessor's, microprocessor's

n.a tiny computer chip that controls the operations of a device. It acts like the brain of a computer or phone, telling all the parts what to do.

n.an integrated circuit that contains the functions of a central processing unit of a computer. It serves as the primary component responsible for executing instructions and managing data flow within a system.


SIMPLE

The computer's microprocessor handles all the calculations.

CONTEXTUAL

Engineers are designing a new microprocessor that uses less power and runs faster than the previous generation.

COMPLEX

The evolution of the microprocessor has fundamentally transformed the landscape of modern computing, enabling the miniaturization of complex systems that were once the size of entire rooms.

This “cognitive revolution” only extended to organisms with brains – with neurons, the wetware version of the microprocessor.

The Guardian· 8 Sept 2026

When his bosses found out he’d used a Fairchild microprocessor to power it, he was tasked with creating a gaming division within the company.

Smithsonian Magazine· 16 Jun 2026

From micro- + processor.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated