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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!