GPU

abbreviation or noun

ˌjē-(ˌ)pē-ˈyü

variants or less commonly gpu

plural GPUs also gpus

: a specialized CPU designed to efficiently perform calculations for generating computer graphics

A GPU can deliver hundreds of billions of operations per second—some GPUs more than a teraflop, or a trillion operations per second—while requiring only slightly more electrical power and cooling than a CPU.—Andrea Di Blas et al.

Examples of GPU in a Sentence

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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.

Sometimes, the administration institutes a cap on GPU export numbers to firms like Alibaba. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Such a project, Huang said, could enable more companies to borrow money for GPU purchases at lower rates, because the chips will generate returns. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 However, the Mac mini jumps from a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16-core neural engine to a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026 Its first major demonstration came in November 2025, when Starcloud-1 carried an NVIDIA H100 GPU into space. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for GPU

Word History

Etymology

graphics processing unit

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of GPU was in 1973

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GPS

GPU

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Style

“GPU.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/GPU. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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GPU

abbreviation or noun

Examples of GPU in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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