c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r
COMPUTER is an electronic device that processes information according to programmed instructions. From room-sized mainframes to pocket smartphones, computers have revolutionized every aspect of modern life.
14
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
COMPUTER represents one of humanity's most transformative inventions—a machine that can store, retrieve, and process data at speeds far exceeding human capability. What began as mechanical calculators has evolved into devices that fit in our pockets yet possess more computing power than the systems that sent astronauts to the moon.
At its core, a computer operates on simple principles: it receives input, processes it according to stored instructions (programs), and produces output. This basic cycle, repeated billions of times per second, enables everything from word processing to artificial intelligence. The magic lies not in complexity but in the incredible speed of simple operations.
Modern computers come in countless forms: desktop workstations, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and embedded systems in everything from cars to refrigerators. Supercomputers tackle climate modeling and drug discovery, while quantum computers promise to solve problems classical computers cannot. Each type optimizes the basic computing principles for specific needs.
The social impact of computers extends far beyond calculation. They've democratized information access, revolutionized communication, and created entirely new industries. Social media, e-commerce, remote work, and digital entertainment exist because computers made them possible. Yet this revolution also brings challenges: privacy concerns, digital divides, and questions about artificial intelligence's role in society.
In Scrabble and word games, COMPUTER is a valuable 8-letter word containing high-value letters C (3 points) and P (3 points). Strategic players can build from existing words like PUT, COMP, or ROUTE, while the -ER suffix offers excellent hooking opportunities for additional scoring.
COMPUTER derives from the Latin "computare," meaning "to calculate, count, or sum up." This combines "com-" (together) with "putare" (to reckon or think), literally meaning "to think together" or "to reckon with."
Originally, "computer" referred to a person who performed calculations—often women employed to compute astronomical data or ballistic trajectories. During World War II, teams of human computers calculated artillery firing tables. The job title "computer" appeared in job listings well into the 1960s.
The transition from human to machine began in the 1940s. Early electronic computers like ENIAC were called "electronic computers" to distinguish them from human computers. By the 1950s, the electronic version had become so dominant that the qualifier was dropped, and "computer" came to mean the machine by default.
Related words share the Latin root: "computation" (the act of computing), "compute" (to calculate), and "putative" (commonly thought or deemed). The French "ordinateur" (one who puts in order) offers an interesting alternative perspective, emphasizing organization over calculation—a prescient view given modern computers' role in organizing information.
•The first computer bug was an actual moth found trapped in Harvard's Mark II computer in 1947, taped into the logbook by Grace Hopper with the note "First actual case of bug being found"
•Your smartphone has more computing power than all of NASA had in 1969 when it sent two astronauts to the moon—the Apollo Guidance Computer operated at 0.043 MHz
•In Scrabble, COMPUTER can be strategically built from COMPUTE + R, or broken down into smaller words like COMP, PUT, CUTE, and ROTE for multiple scoring opportunities
"The quantum computer solved in minutes what would take classical computers millennia."
"She upgraded her computer with more RAM to handle video editing software."
"The computer froze right in the middle of saving my important presentation."
"Modern cars contain dozens of computers controlling everything from fuel injection to entertainment systems."
"I played COMPUTER using the existing COMP on the board, placing the U on a double letter score!"
CPU, GPU, RAM, motherboard
HDD, SSD, optical drives, memory cards
Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB
The computer's impact on human civilization rivals that of the printing press or industrial revolution. In just 80 years, computers evolved from room-filling calculators to ubiquitous devices that mediate nearly every aspect of modern life. This revolution happened so quickly that different generations have vastly different relationships with technology.
Personal computers democratized access to information and creative tools. What once required specialized equipment—publishing, music production, filmmaking—now happens on devices available to billions. The internet, enabled by computers, created a global nervous system where information travels at light speed, reshaping commerce, education, and social interaction.
Yet the computer revolution also poses challenges. Digital divides separate those with access from those without. Privacy evaporates as computers track our every move. Artificial intelligence, powered by ever-more-powerful computers, promises both tremendous benefits and existential risks. How we navigate these challenges will define the next chapter of human history.
Total base points: 14 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 3 | Consonants: 5
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like COMPUTER