hardware error
- noun
- /ˈhɑrdˌwɛr ˈɛrər/
- Specialized
:
error de hardware
- After publishing this review, CNET Labs discovered a hardware error on our test computer that affected our published system benchmarks.
Examples
-
Due to a hardware error, the printer stopped working and needed to be repaired.
-
We then consider the design implications of complex instructions and special S/390 architectural facilities, and close with a brief discussion of hardware error detection and recovery in S/390 processors.
Academic text (2000) -
In the realm of microprocessor design, the most crucial aspect of this is that all hardware errors must be detected before they have led to any unrecoverable loss of data.
Academic text (2000) -
The events are real, transient signals of either terrestrial or extraterrestrial origin; in this case, they may be local interference or hardware errors in the digital electronics, or they could be ETI signals that are intermittent intrinsically.
Academic text (1999) -
The technician quickly identified a hardware error that was causing the computer to crash frequently.
-
After investigating the issue, we found that a hardware error was responsible for the data loss.
Synonyms
3
3.4
A machine or device that stops working when you need it
How Serious
- Specialized
396
3.3
- Specialized
69
3.2
- Specialized
3
5.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound simply combines 'hardware' (physical components of a computer) with 'error' (an incorrect result or fault), so its meaning — an error caused by a physical/component malfunction — is directly derivable from the constituents. This compositional technical noun follows standard cross-linguistic compound patterns and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Hardware error comes from the simple idea that hardware means the computer's physical parts and error means a problem or fault. Imagine a broken chip or loose cable that makes the computer stop working correctly; that picture explains why hardware error now means 'an error caused by a physical computer part not working'.