laptop
laptop
Pronunciation
/ˈlæptɒp/
lap: /læp/ - a low front vowel sound, followed by a voiced alveolar lateral approximant
top: /tɒp/ - a voiceless alveolar plosive, followed by a low back rounded vowel sound, followed by a voiceless bilabial plosive
Word Form Variations
Singular: laptop
Plural: laptops
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A portable computer that is small enough to be used comfortably on one's lap. It typically has a single integrated case that contains the screen, keyboard, and internal components.
Synonyms: notebook computer, notebook, portable computer
Antonyms: desktop computer, desktop, mainframe
Adjective
Relating to or designed for a laptop computer.
Example: "I need a laptop case for my new computer."
Synonyms: portable, compact
Antonyms: desktop, stationary
Examples of Use
Books
"The laptop computer is considered one of the most used and important technological devices in higher education, yet limited systematic research has been conducted to develop a measure of laptop use in college and university." (Kay & Lauricella, Assessing Laptop Use in Higher Education: The Laptop Use Scale, December 2015)
"Digital devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones make it possible to 'set up camp' anytime and anywhere, as long as there is electric power and Wi-Fi." (Torten et al., Experiencing the New World of Work, March 2021)
Newspapers and Online Publications
A PCMag review from July 2025 states that the "best laptop for most people is the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Touch, a top-value ultraportable that lasts nearly 20 hours on a charge."
"How you use your laptop will directly influence how much performance you'll need. Using heavy-duty apps like Adobe Premiere Pro* or playing video games requires a lot of horsepower from the CPU." (Intel, "How to Choose the Best Laptop for College")
"I used the Asus ROG Strix G16 for a week, and it may be the best value in gaming laptops right now." (Laptop Mag, June 2025)
Entertainment
In the television series Mr. Robot, the main character, Elliot Alderson, frequently uses a laptop to conduct his hacking activities.
In the film The Social Network, a scene shows Mark Zuckerberg developing the initial code for Facebook on his laptop in his dorm room.
"Gaming laptops are powerful portable computers designed to handle resource-intensive games with high-quality graphics and fast processing speeds." (HP, "Laptops by Use: Features, Benefits & Selection Guide")
General Public Discourse
A common public service announcement reminds travelers to remove their laptops from their bags before placing them in the security scanner at airports.
"I need to bring my laptop on vacation so I can keep up with work emails."
"The coffee shop is a great place to work on my laptop, as long as I can find an open outlet."
10 Famous Quotes Using Laptop
"What turns me on about the digital age, what excited me personally, is that you have closed the gap between dreaming and doing. You see, it used to be that if you wanted to make a record of a song, you needed a studio and a producer. Now, you need a laptop." - Bono
"It's really hard to use a laptop when you only have half a lap." - Tammy Duckworth
"My laptop has freed me to travel." - Steven Pinker
"I should prefer to have a politician who regularly went to a massage parlour than one who promised a laptop computer for every teacher." - A. N. Wilson (1999)
"Everyone with a cell phone thinks they're a photographer. Everyone with a laptop thinks they're a journalist." - Helen Thomas
"To me, the greatest invention of my lifetime is the laptop computer and the fact that I can be working on a book and be in an airport lounge, in a hotel room, and continue working." - Bill Bryson
"The last place you would want to put one of these devices is on your lap!" - Steven Magee, referring to a laptop (Magee's Disease)
"I work on a laptop specifically so I can work in cafes and pretend I'm part of the human world." - Jonathan Lethem (2004)
"Technology has allowed people to make records really cheap. You can make a record on a laptop." - David Byrne
"A businessman needs a laptop." - Lolo Jones
Etymology
The word "laptop" is a straightforward combination of two English words: "lap" and "top."
Lap: This refers to the flat area formed by the thighs when a person is sitting down.
Top: This simply means "on top of."
So, the word "laptop" literally means something that sits "on top of" your "lap."
The term emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a way to describe a new type of portable computer. These early machines were designed to be small enough to be used comfortably while resting on a person's lap, making them a more convenient and mobile alternative to the larger, stationary "desktop" computers of the era. The first known use of the term in a publication was in a PC Magazine article from 1983.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Laptop
Laptop lifestyle: A term used to describe a way of life where a person works remotely and is not tied to a physical office, often traveling or working from various locations with just their laptop.
Working on my laptop: A common phrase indicating that someone is performing tasks or working on a computer.
Living out of my laptop: An expression used to describe a person who keeps most of their work, files, and digital life on a portable computer, making them highly mobile.
Tethered to the laptop: A less common idiom suggesting that someone is constantly connected to their work or digital world, unable to disconnect.
On my notebook: A phrase using a synonym for a similar effect, meaning someone is using their portable computer.
A desktop in your lap: A descriptive phrase highlighting the power and functionality of a laptop in a small, portable form factor.
The laptop warrior: A nickname for a person who is adept at using their laptop for a variety of tasks, particularly in a professional or competitive setting.
Laptop-only setup: Refers to a workspace or system where only a portable computer is used, without a separate monitor, keyboard, or mouse.
Laptop brain: A humorous, original phrase to describe someone who is highly skilled with computers and has a wealth of information stored in their memory, much like a computer's hard drive.
Banged up my laptop: An informal phrase meaning to have damaged or broken one's portable computer.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of laptop from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
