unactivated phone; computer without OS
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
mobile phone or pager not yet connected to a network
informalLiterally 'naked machine'. Refers to a cellular phone or pager that has been purchased but not activated with a carrier or has had its network service disabled. It can often only make emergency calls.
He bought an unactivated phone and plans to choose a plan himself.
This old phone has been unlinked from the network; it's now a bare device.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Some plans bundle a phone, while others sell just the unactivated device.
noun
computer without an operating system or pre-installed software
informalLiterally 'naked machine'. Refers to a computer sold as bare hardware, allowing the user to install their preferred operating system (like Linux or a specific Windows version) and software. Common among tech enthusiasts and for servers.
I bought a barebones server and plan to install the Linux OS myself.
For advanced users, a bare-metal computer offers the greatest freedom for customization.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
This shop specializes in selling barebones laptops of various brands.