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  1. Abbreviation for central processing unit, the
  2. part of a computer that executes individual
  3. program instructions and controls the
  4. operation of other parts. It comprise five
  5. main elements: the ALU (arithmetic and logic
  6. unit), which contains the basic operations
  7. (its `instruction set') and applies them to
  8. data; a program counter to keep track of the
  9. program being executed; a number of registers
  10. for storing intermediate results and data
  11. awaiting processing; (normally) an electronic
  12. clock, which emits regular pulses that
  13. coordinate the CPU's activities; and a
  14. control unit for organizing the processing.
  15.