hardware

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: hard=ware

CIDE DICTIONARY

hardware, n. 

•  Ware made of metal, as cutlery, kitchen utensils, and the like; ironmongery.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any of the physical objects used in carrying out an activity, in contrast to the knowledge, skill, or theory required to perform the activity; mostly used collectively.  [PJC]
•  The sum of all the physical objects, such as the electrical, mechanical, and electronic devices which comprise a computer system; as, the typical PC hardware suite consists of a mainboard and a number of peripherals such as hard drives and speakers, connected by adapter cards, but the input and output from users occurs mostly through the keyboard and monitor; contrasted with software, the programs executed by the computer.  [PJC]
•  The weapons, transport, and other physical objects used in conducting a war.  [PJC]
•  Weapons, especially handguns, carried on the person; as, check your hardware at the door before entering.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hardware, n.
1 tools and household articles of metal etc.
2 heavy machinery or armaments.
3 the mechanical and electronic components of a computer etc. (cf. SOFTWARE).

THESAURUS

hardware

appliances, armaments, arms, brassware, chinaware, clayware, components, computer, computer hardware, computer unit, copperware, devices, dinnerware, durable goods, durables, earthenware, electronic brain, electronic computer, enamelware, fixtures, flatware, glassware, graniteware, hard goods, hollow ware, housefurnishings, housewares, information machine, ironmongery, ironware, kitchenware, machinery, materiel, metalware, munitions, ovenware, silverware, sporting goods, stoneware, tableware, thinking machine, tinware, tools, tools and machinery, white goods, woodenware

ROGET THESAURUS

hardware

Hardness

N hardness, rigidity, renitence, renitency, inflexibility, temper, callosity, durity, induration, petrifaction, lapidification, lapidescence, vitrification, ossification, crystallization, stone, pebble, flint, marble, rock, fossil, crag, crystal, quartz, granite, adamant, bone, cartilage, hardware, heart of oak, block, board, deal board, iron, steel, cast iron, decarbonized iron, wrought iron, nail, brick, concrete, cement, hard, rigid, stubborn, stiff, firm, starch, starched, stark, unbending, unlimber, unyielding, inflexible, tense, indurate, indurated, gritty, proof, adamant, adamantine, adamantean, concrete, stony, granitic, calculous, lithic, vitreous, horny, corneous, bony, osseous, ossific, cartilaginous, hard as a rock, stiff as buckram, stiff as a poker, stiff as starch, stiff as as board.