arithmetic logic unit

noun

variants or less commonly arithmetic and logic unit

computing

: a circuit in a computer's central processing unit that performs basic mathematical calculations

… the core of a central processing chip is the arithmetic logic unit or units. These units do basic operations like addition, multiplication and division.—

New York Times, 23 July 1998

—abbreviation ALU

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of arithmetic logic unit was in 1972

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Arithmetic logic unit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arithmetic%20logic%20unit. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation