Click – press and let go of mouse button once quickly
Close – finish working on a file
Computer – machine that works with, or processes, information that you give it .... Remember the computer is nothing without YOU.
Cursor – blinking dot or line that marks the place on the screen where the next letter or symbol you type will appear
Desktop – screen that displays icons for programs, files, and folders
Double-click – press and let go quickly of mouse button twice
Enter key – command key; also, moves cursor to the next line
Icon – small picture or image on the monitor
Keyboard – tool used for typing information into the computer
Log in – connect to the computer network
Log out – disconnect from the computer network
Monitor – computer screen
Mouse – a pointing device used to control the position of the cursor and to click on icons
Mouse pad – the pad the mouse moves on
Open – opens work or a program that has been highlighted
Printer – prints information on paper
Program – piece of software or application
Quit – exit from a program
Return key – command key; also, moves cursor to the next line
Shift key – capital letters produced when this key is held down when typing a letter
Spacebar – long bar on the keyboard that types spaces
Speaker – lets you hear information
Backspace – erases characters to the left of the cursor
Caps lock – capitalizes a whole word or sentence
Close box – little square in the upper left hand corner of a window which, when clicked, closes the window
Delete key – erases information from the computer
Files – data that is stored in the computer
Folder – holds files
Save – used when saved work already has a title
Save as – used when work needs a title before saving
Scroll – move lines of text up, down, or from side to side
Shutdown – turn off computer
Window – box that appears on screen when you run a program
Word processing – set-up, editing (revising and correcting), saving, and printing text
Align – position text on a screen either centered, left or right
Clip Art – pictures
Data – information that you input to a computer, or that the computer outputs
Database – information stored in a file
Deselect – to click off a selected item
Document – file created containing text and/or graphics
Document folder – folder containing user’s work
Drag – moving the mouse while holding the button down to move objects on the screen
Font – characters that come in different styles
Highlight – to select, usually by clicking or dragging with the mouse
Menu – a list of commands or options to choose from
Menu bar – a horizontal strip across the top of a program containing commands or options
Select – to pick or choose
Spell check – word processing tool to check correct spelling and grammar
Style – the type of font
Tab key – moves the cursor to the next tab stop
Bold – heavy-faced (dark) font
CD-ROM – a flat round disk that stores software or data
Crash – when a computer suddenly stops working
Disk – used to store a program or data
Disk drive – a disk player that runs a disk; can read information on a disk or save information to a disk
Email – electronic mail sent from one computer to another
Finder – program used to find files
Graphics – pictures
Hardware – the parts of the computer that you can see and touch
Home row keys – keys where fingers rest when typing ASDF JKL;
Hyperlinks – clicking on text or images that connect you to other text or images
Internet – worldwide network of computers
Italics – a font style with characters that slant upward to the right
Memory – the part of a computer where information is stored
Network – a system of interconnected computers
Search engine – software that makes it possible to look for and get material on the internet
Slide – one screen in a multimedia presentation
Slide show – a presentation containing more than one slide
Software – computer program
Text wrap – words automatically move from one line to the next or around a picture
Transitions – special effects used to go from one slide to another in a slide show
Web browser –program used to view web pages
Animations – moving graphics on a computer screen
Application – computer software that performs a task such as word processing or drawing
Cell – box on a spreadsheet or database that holds data
Cite sources – give credit for information used (similar to a bibliography)
Field – one piece of information in a database
Footer – text that appears at the bottom of every page of a document
Header – text that appears at the top of every page of a document
Input – information that you enter into a computer
Launch – start a program
Layout – the arrangement of text and graphics in a document or information in a database
Output – what the computer produces
Page orientation – direction information is laid out on a computer screen or printed page; landscape has a horizontal layout and portrait has a vertical layout.
Record – collection of related fields in a database; one “card” in a database
Shared folder – folder on a network where a group can share work
Shortcuts – one or more keys you press on the keyboard to complete a task
Spreadsheet – software that works with calculating numbers
Template – pre-designed document to which information is added
Thesaurus – word processing tool used to suggest synonyms and antonyms
Toggle – switch between open programs
Toolbar – rows of command buttons