console
    n 1: a small table fixed to a wall or designed to stand against
         a wall [syn: console table, console]
    2: a scientific 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, console]
    v 1: give moral or emotional strength to [syn: comfort,
         soothe, console, solace]

Console \Con*sole"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Consoled; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Consoling.] [L. consolari,. p. p. consolatus; con- +
   solari to console, comfort: cf. F. consoler. See Solace.]
   To cheer in distress or depression; to alleviate the grief
   and raise the spirits of; to relieve; to comfort; to soothe.
   [1913 Webster]

         And empty heads console with empty sound. --Pope.
   [1913 Webster]

         I am much consoled by the reflection that the religion
         of Christ has been attacked in vain by all the wits and
         philosophers, and its triumph has been complete. --P.
                                                  Henry.

   Syn: To comfort; solace; soothe; cheer; sustain; encourage;
        support. See Comfort.
        [1913 Webster]

Console \Con"sole\, n. [F.]
   1. (Arch.)
      (a) A bracket whose projection is not more than half its
          height.
      (b) Any small bracket; also, a console table.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. (Computers) The keyboard and monitor of a computer
      considered together.
      [GG]

   3. (Engineering) The controlling portion of an electrical,
      electronic, or mechanical device or system, from which the
      operator may observe the state of the system as indicated
      by gauges or on some form of display[n3], and may direct
      or control the action of the system.
      [GG +PJC]

   4. the desklike controlling unit of an organ containing the
      keyboard, pedals, stops, etc. by means of which the organ
      is played.
      [PJC]

   5. a home entertainment device such as a television, radio,
      phonograph, CD player, or combination of these, designed
      as a piece of furniture, to stand on the floor rather than
      on a table or in a separate cabinet; -- also used
      attributively in the phrase console model.
      [PJC]

   Console table, a table whose top is supported by two or
      more consoles instead of legs.
      [1913 Webster]

console
 n.

    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 timesharing OSes, 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 sysadmins 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.

console

   1.  The operator's station
   of a mainframe as opposed to an ordinary user's terminal.  In
   times past, the console was a privileged location that conveyed
   godlike powers to anyone with fingers on its keys.  Under Unix
   and other modern time-sharing operating systems, such
   privileges are guarded by passwords instead, and the console is
   just the tty the system was booted from.  On Unix the device is
   called /dev/console.

   On a microcomputer Unix box, the console is the main screen
   and keyboard.  Other, character-only, terminals may be connected
   to serial ports.  Typically only the console can do real
   graphics or run X.  See also CTY.

   2.  A self-contained microcomputer optimised for gaming,
   with powerful graphical output designed to be displayed on a
   television; equipped with one or more joystick controllers for
   input and an optical drive to load software.  Later generations
   also feature Internet connection via wireless or wired
   Ethernet for downloading games and multiplayer networked play.
   Typically such devices have no keyboard so text must be input
   using the controller to operate an on-screen keyboard, e.g. to
   enter player names.

   The most successful recent examples are the Sony Playstation and
   Microsoft Xbox families.

   [Jargon File]

   (2014-07-01)