(1) A
computer whose dominant characteristic is its ability to perform large amounts of numerical computations quickly.
Supercomputers, for example, are sometimes called number crunchers. In addition, the term
number cruncher is often applied to powerful
workstations.
(2) The term number cruncher is sometimes applied to programs. For example, statistical programs are number crunchers because their main task is to perform mathematical calculations.
(3) Less frequently, the term number cruncher refers to individuals who use a computer primarily for analyzing numbers.
