laptop

lap-top · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A portable personal computer small enough to use on one's lap, with a screen, keyboard, and battery integrated into a single unit.

  2. 2.

    Used attributively to describe things related to or designed for such computers.

Forms

plural: laptops

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    laptop computer — Full form emphasizing it is a computer
  • •
    laptop bag/case — A carrying case designed for portable computers

Related words

Antonyms: desktop
See also: computer, desktop, notebook, tablet
Synonyms: notebook, notebook computer, portable computer

Etymology

A compound word from "lap" (the flat area formed by the thighs when seated) + "top" (surface), coined in the 1980s to describe portable computers that could be used while sitting, as opposed to desktop computers.