processor

noun

pro·​ces·​sor ˈprä-ˌse-sər How to pronounce processor (audio)
ˈprō-
1
: one that processes
scrap processor
agricultural processor
2
a(1)
(2)
: a component of a computer that processes data
specifically : cpu
b
: a computer program (such as a compiler) that puts another program into a form acceptable to the computer
3

Examples of processor in a Sentence

the largest seafood processor in the country
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Intel Core i5 processor is more than enough to crunch numbers all day, and both RAM and onboard storage are solid for a tiny desktop. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 May 2025 QuickBooks and Xero: Integrate your business accounts, payment processors, and banks to automatically categorize transactions, send invoices, and generate reports. John Hall, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025 Courtesy of OnePlus Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, the high-end processor powering all the 2025 Android phones, this is a flagship tablet through and through. Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 24 May 2025 The robot's dual 96-line lidar sensors and wide-angle cameras feed data into its onboard processors, enabling real-time mapping, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and autonomous navigation, even in low visibility or completely dark environments. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for processor

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of processor was in 1909

Cite this Entry

“Processor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/processor. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

processor

noun
pro·​ces·​sor ˈpräs-ˌes-ər How to pronounce processor (audio)
ˈprōs-
1
: a person or machine that processes
2
: a part of a computer that processes data
especially : cpu

More from Merriam-Webster on processor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!