Learn the daily used English vocabulary words for computers
Vocabulary is promordial in order to improve your TOEFL score. Remember, Preparation is the key to succeed !
Vocabulary |
Definition |
Example |
A key |
A key refers to a button on the computer keyboard which when pressed alone or in combination with others causes a specific computational or mechanical operation. |
Press the enter key on the keyboard to move to the next line. |
A keyboard |
Refers to the input device having a set of keys that you press in order to input a text or a command. |
I had to replace my keyboard since of the keys were not functioning. |
A laptop |
Refers to a portable computer usually battery operated, compaq to rest on a user’s lap and has a screen that closes over the keyboard like a lid. |
I had to replace my laptop because it kept getting crashed from time to time. |
A desktop computer |
Refers to a personal or office computer designed for regular and daily use operated from a single location on or near a desk or a table due to its size and power requirements. |
The office discourages the use of desktop computers and gives all of its employees a laptop. |
A network |
Refers to a group of systems and other computing hardware devices that are connected together through communication channels to enable communication and resource sharing among users. |
There was a network issue due to which communication was lost and hence, we couldn’t complete the work on time. |
To download |
Refers to transferring or copying or moving programs or information or data from one source to another for example from the internet to a computer’s memory. |
Last week, I downloaded all the songs of the lastest album of Celin Dion. |
To upload |
Refers to copying or moving programs or information to a larger computer system or the internet |
I will upload all the photos on Facebook so that you will be able to find them. |
To upgrade |
to improve the quality or usefulness of something, such as a machine or a computer program. |
It’s very simple to upgrade the indexing software. |
To log on /off |
To log on refers to start using a computer system or program by entering a password (= a secret word by which the system recognizes an approved user). To log off refers to shutting down the computer program once the work is finished. |
About 40,000 gamers have been logging on every day since the website appeared last month |
To type |
Refers to write on a computer using the keys of a keyboard |
I had to type a long text of 1000 words to complete the report. |
To update a site |
Refer to adding improvements to an existing site by adding new information or data or changing its design. |
An updated version of the site by improving its design will make it more attractive to users. |
Typing error |
mistake made in the typing process such as a spelling mistake. |
Next time be careful with typing errors because I found too many in your last project. |
A screen / monitor |
An electronic visual display to display the information produced by the video card. |
we recently bought a 16-inch monitor as the one we currently use has display problems. |
A flat screen |
a monitor screen or a television screen that is thin and flat. |
a flat-screen TV will be perfect for our apartment. |
A touch screen |
a display screen of a computer, phone, etc. that you touch in order to give it instructions, rather than using a keyboard or keypad. |
Touch screen monitors, though expensive are in great demand among consumers. |
A software The software is …… |
A set of instructions or a computer program that performs a specific function. |
He’s written a piece of software that calculates your taxes for you. |
A spreadsheet |
a computer program, used especially by businesses, that allows you to do financial calculations and devise new plans. |
The accountant entered the figures into the spreadsheet. |
A word processor |
a program used for creating and editing documents and letters on a computer. |
Which version of word processor do you have on your computer? |
Hardware |
the physical parts of a computer rather than the instructions (software) it follows. |
Much of our existing computer hardware is obsolete. |
The mouse |
a small handheld device which is moved across a mat or flat surface to move the cursor on a computer screen. |
copy the file with a click of the mouse |
The loudspeakers |
A system that converts electrical impulses into sound, typically as part of a public address system. |
The party didn’t happen as the loudspeakers were functioning. |
A cordless headphones |
Refer to headphones without wires or cables |
Last week, I bought a pair of cordless headphones. |
A cordless mouse |
Also, referred to a wireless mouse or a mouse without wires or cables |
Last week, I replaced by existing mouse with a cordless mouse for just 25 euros. |
A disk drive |
A piece of computer equipment that allows information to be stored on and read from a disk |
Disk drive is the best option for protection of data in computers. |
To plug in /out |
To plug in means to be connected or to provide current / electricity by means of a plug while to plug out means to disconnect by removing the plug. |
He had to plug in the adaptor in order to charge his laptop. |
Data processing |
the carrying out of operations on data, especially by a computer, to retrieve, transform, or classify information. |
The company has decided to outsource all data processing tasks. |
To process |
a series of steps taken in order to achieve a particular end. |
The process was automated with the help of a macro to reduce time taken to complete the task. |
Data ( pluriel )
|
Referred to an information, especially facts or numbers, collected, to be examined and considered and used to help in decision-making, or an information in an electronic form that can be stored and used by a computer. |
It is always best to back up your data stored in a system. |
A printer |
a machine that is connected to a computer and prints information onto a paper using ink on giving a command. |
He couldn’t print his resume as he didn’t have a printer. |
A jam (of paper ) |
Refers to a situation when a paper gets stuck in a printer that prevents the printer from printing documents. |
There was a jam in the printer and it took over an hour to get it resolved. |
An ink-jet printer |
an electronic printer that blows ink onto paper using very small jets (= small openings that push out liquid) |
The company is more traditional and orthodox and hence decided to stick with ink-jet printers. |
A bubblejet printer |
a form of inkjet printer in which the ink is heated, producing bubbles which force droplets of ink on to the paper. |
I decided to try out the bubblejet printer because of the good reviews I got about it. |
A laser printer |
a printer that produces very clear text and pictures by means of a laser beam |
Companies these days are switching to laser printers because of the quality it offers in printing documents. |
An ink cartridge |
A small container of ink for use in an inkjet printer |
Could you please go and buy an ink cartridge? |
A toner cartridge |
A small container of powdered ink used in laser printing |
I always prefer toner cartridge because it is more strong. |
The internet |
A large system of connected computers around the world that allow people to share information and communicate with each other |
I found out about the bombings from the internet. |
To surf the net |
Refers to using the internet |
Children are not allowed to surf the net while they are young. |
To browse the internet |
to look at information on the internet |
I found your site while browsing the Web and was very impressed. |
Internet access |
An access that permits the use of internet. |
I didn’t have internet access last month because we didn’t pay the bills. |
A wireless connection |
not using wires and cables to connect to the internet |
Let’s book that hotel because they provide free wireless connection. |
A tablet |
a thin, flat mobile computer with a touchscreen display, which is usually in color, processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single device. |
Tablets are the new generation of computers and the most used device today. |
A website |
A link to a set of pages of information on the internet about a particular subject published by a single person or organization. |
For more information about other Cambridge publications and courses, visit our website at www.cambridge.org. |
An email address |
A name that identifies an electronic post office box on a network where a message of an e-mail can be sent |
Give me your email address to send you the application form. |
Bookmarks |
Also called favorites or internet shortcuts to mark and save certain websites for easy reference in future. |
I had a lot of bookmarks online but unfortunately, lost them all because my browser crashed. |
A browser |
a computer program with a graphical user interface for displaying HTML files, used to navigate the World Wide Web. |
The website is not optimized enough to run on a browser. |
A search engine |
a computer program that finds information on the internet by looking for words that you have typed in. |
Google is the world’s largest search engine. |
A webmaster |
somebody who maintains a website |
The webmaster is responsible for updating the website. |
A firewall |
a device or program that stops people from seeing or using information on a computer without permission while it is connected to the internet |
You may have to disable your firewall to install the program. |
An access provider |
a company that allows you to use the internet and email |
France’s biggest access provider is Orange. |
A cybernaut |
Refers to an expert or habitual user of the internet. |
The company is looking for cybernauts to handle their catalogue page. |
A login |
Refers to a name that you enter in order to be able to access a computer system or in order to access an email account online. |
You need to login at the start in order to be able to access the system’s folders. |
A password |
a secret word or combination of letters and numbers, used for communicating with a computer to prove your identity. |
My access got blocked because I typed the wrong password thrice. |
Digital |
Refers to recording or storing information as a series of numbers 1 and 0, to show that a signal is present or absent. |
Storing data in the form of Digital is always a better and more convenient option than papers. |
A personal digital assistant |
Also referred to as a handheld PC, or personal data assistant, is a kind of mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. |
My family bought me a personal digital assistant for my new university life. |
A USB key |
Universal Serial Bus or USB refers to an external device that can be used to store and transfer data or information from one system to another connecting it to a USB port of a system. |
She bought USB key so she will transfer all her projects from her computer. |
a toolbar |
On a computer screen, a row of icons that can be clicked to perform certain functions. |
Using a toolbar will be faster and better for designing your project. |
A chat group |
A service provided by certain ISPs that allows a group of people to communicate virtually with each other from their respective systems. |
They created a chat group and decided to have the meeting from their desks. |
An overnight mail |
Refers to an email prepared to be delivered next day |
Send me an overnight mail. I will look into it tomorrow morning. |
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- TOEFL vocabulary list: all the essential words you need to know