minicomputer
UK[ˈmɪnɪkəmpjuːtə]US[ˈmɪnɪkəmpjuːtər]
n
A computer of medium power, smaller than a mainframe but larger than a microcomputer, used especially in the 1970s and 1980s.
Morpheme Breakdown
mini
computer
mini
small
computer
electronic data processor
Etymology
The term "minicomputer" is a modern compound, coined in the mid-20th century during the evolution of computer technology. It combines the prefix "mini-", derived from the Latin minimus meaning "smallest", with the noun "computer", from the Latin computare meaning "to sum up, reckon". The logic is transparently descriptive: it denotes a computer that is smaller than the then-dominant mainframe computers. This naming convention directly reflects the technological trend of miniaturization, where "mini-" does not imply minimal function but a reduced physical size and cost compared to its larger predecessors, carving out a distinct market niche before the rise of personal microcomputers.
Analysis
Structure: mini (small) + computer (electronic data processor)
- mini: From Latin minimus (smallest, least), via English "miniature" and "mini-". Acts as a combining form meaning "smaller or shorter than the standard".
- computer: From Latin computare (to calculate, reckon). Acts as the root noun denoting an electronic device for processing data.
Examples
The laboratory used a minicomputer to control its experimental apparatus.
The rise of the minicomputer made computing power accessible to smaller businesses and university departments.
This old minicomputer system was once state-of-the-art but is now a museum piece.