laptop

1 of 2

adjective

lap·​top ˈlap-ˌtäp 

: of a size and design that makes operation and use on one's lap convenient compare desktop

laptop

2 of 2

noun

: a portable microcomputer having its main components (such as processor, keyboard, and display screen) integrated into a single unit capable of battery-powered operation

Examples of laptop in a Sentence

Noun

He uses a laptop for business when he travels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The laptop sleeve inside the backpack keeps computers and other electronics secure and safe. —Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2024

The way the hinge drops to fold the screen up in laptop mode actually keeps it from freely venting, redirecting a lot of the hot air right up the face of the display and making fan noise that's hard to ignore. —PCMAG, 27 Sep. 2024

Noun

To make Starlink even more portable, SpaceX this summer also began selling a Mini dish, which is about the size of a laptop and can fit in any normal backpack. —& Michael Kan, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

One Friday evening early last year, three grad students burst into a dim pub near the Innsbruck campus holding a laptop. —Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1984, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1984, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

laptop

1 of 2 adjective

lap·​top -ˌtäp 

: of a size and design that makes use on one's lap convenient

laptop

2 of 2 noun

: a portable computer that is small enough to use on one's lap, has its main components (as keyboard and display screen) combined in one unit, and can run on battery power