laptop

Everyday

A small computer that you can carry, with a screen and keyboard joined together that fold shut. tree →

In the lessons

In school, pupils use laptops for research, typing and coding; online safety rules apply: keep passwords secret, only use websites the teacher allows, and tell an adult if something online upsets you. In everyday life, laptops run on a battery that needs charging; keep drinks away and carry them closed. Phrases: «laptop computer», «on the laptop», «charge the laptop».

Examples

• We used laptops in class to research volcanoes. tree →
• Close the laptop before you carry it. tree →
• Keep your drink away from the laptop. tree →
• My laptop battery is low; I need to charge it. tree →
• Dad works on his laptop at the kitchen table. tree →
• Each table shared one laptop. tree →
• Don't leave a laptop on your bed or lap for long — it gets hot. tree →
• Log out of the school laptop when you finish. tree →

Note

Countable; one word. A laptop is portable; a «desktop» computer stays on a desk; a «tablet» has a touch screen and usually no keyboard.