laptopn.adj.
/ˈlaptɒp/, U.S. /ˈlæpˌtɑp/ A. n.
A portable personal computer which is small and light enough to rest on the user's lap, usually having a hinged screen that closes over the keyboard when not in use. Cf. desktop n. 2, notebook n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > hardware > computer > [noun] > portable
portable1933
luggable1978
notebook computer1982
lap portable1983
laptop1983
transportable1983
lap-held1984
notebook1988
mobile device1989
notebook PC1989
notepad1991
digital assistant1992
personal digital assistant1992
netbook1999
1983 Los Angeles Times 10 Sept. iii. 17/3 (advt.) NEC PC8201A—16K laptop in stock $799.
1986 Guardian 14 Apr. 22/5 Laptops are battery-powered micros about the size of a telephone book, with small LCD screens and typewriter-style keyboards.
1997 K. Reichs Déjà Dead xxxvii. 440 I got out my laptop, logged in, and pulled up the spreadsheet.
2013 Daily Tel. 9 Aug. 14/2 The chain..expected to sell two touch-screen tablets to every one laptop.
B. adj.
Designating a portable computer of this type.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > hardware > computer > [adjective] > portable
luggable1978
transportable1982
laptop1983
lap-held1984
1983 Computerworld Extra 30 Nov. 60/2 Today's portables can be divided into several descriptive categories: the handheld units, the lap-top computers, the transportable units and the integrated portables.
1984 Byte Nov. 105/1 Laptop portables such as Gavilan were stealing the show.
1986 What Micro? Nov. 6/3 Unusually for a laptop machine, provision is made to add an 8087 maths co-processor.
1999 Pop. Sci. July 73 Nestled snugly into a cattle-class seat aboard a 737, you drop your tray table and open your laptop PC.
2016 Herald Sun (Austral.) (Nexis) 15 Sept. 21 A bag containing two laptop computers, clothes and keys were taken from a hotel in Whiteman St.
Compounds
General attributive and objective, as laptop battery, laptop screen, laptop user, etc.
ΚΠ
1984 Computerworld 15 Oct. 102/4 Buyers are likely to spend from 10% to 15% more than they would for a fully functional desktop computer in order to gain laptop portability.
1990 Harper's Mag. Aug. 39/1 Stung bitterly by the frustration of earlier hardware and software shortfalls, Fawn..will approach her next laptop purchase with pronounced skepticism.
1999 Sci. Amer. June 77/2 The Anabat squeaked, chirped and clicked, drawing horizontal lines or scattered dots on the laptop screen.
2004 Future Music May 148/2 Emagic has also, finally, produced PDF file documentation for those laptop users—result!
2015 R. De Arazoza Technol. i. 10/2 Do you want your laptop battery to last longer?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adj.1983