console

n 1: a small table fixed to a wall or designed to stand against a

wall [syn: {console table}]

2: an instrument consisting of displays and an input device

that an operator can use to monitor and control a system

(especially a computer system)

3: an ornamental scroll-shaped bracket (especially one used to

support a wall fixture); "the bust of Napoleon stood on a

console"

4: housing for electronic instruments, as radio or television

[syn: {cabinet}]

v : give moral or emotional strength to [syn: {comfort}, {soothe},

{solace}]

console

1. The operator's station of a {mainframe}. In times past,

this was a privileged location that conveyed godlike powers to

anyone with fingers on its keys. Under {Unix} and other

modern {time-sharing} {operating system}s, such privileges are

guarded by passwords instead, and the console is just the

{tty} the system was booted from. Some of the mystique

remains, however, and it is traditional for {sysadmin}s to

post urgent messages to all users from the console (on Unix,

/dev/console).

2. On {microcomputer} {Unix} boxes, the main screen and

keyboard (as opposed to character-only terminals talking to a

{serial port}). Typically only the console can do real

graphics or run {X}. See also {CTY}.

[{Jargon File}]