Phrase guide

Beowulf cluster

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A cluster of standard personal computers linked by a local area network, usually on the order of 10 nodes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • 2001, A. Grado, et al., The BEOWFI Project: Reducing WFI Data with a Beowulf Cluster, IAU Commission 9 Working Group on Sky Surveys, The New Era of Wide Field Astronomy: Proceedings of a Conference, page 304, With the use of a beowulf cluster the time to process the large amount of data available for the BEOWFI project will be reduced, and the project will also demonstrate the effectiveness of using beowulf clusters in wide field imaging astronomy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

So called because Beowulf is described as having þrittiges / manna mægencræft on his mundgripe (“Thirty men’s strength in his hand-grip”), approximately reflecting the number of nodes in the cluster.