COMPUTERESE

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COMPUTERESE, also computerspeak, computer lingo. Non-technical, often pejorative terms for usage associated with COMPUTING, such as: (1) Strings of letters and words used in programming and processing: the command copy c: admɪ a:, meaning ‘copy from c-drive to a-drive the first administrative file’ (where the c-drive is a built-in hard disk and the a-drive contains an inserted diskette). (2) Terms like mainframe, defined as either ‘the combination of central processor and primary memory of a computer system’ or ‘any large computer system’ (Oxford Dictionary of Computing, 1986). (3) Casual expressions used by computer enthusiasts: Give me your input on this Tell me what you think of this.

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