commodore

1. the senior captain of a shipping line

2. the officer in command of a convoy of merchant ships

3. the senior flag office of a yacht or boat club

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Commodore

One of the first personal computer companies. In 1977, Commodore Business Machines, West Chester, PA, introduced the PET computer and launched the personal computer industry along with Apple and Radio Shack. In 1982, it introduced the Commodore 64 (64K RAM) and later the Commodore 128. These were popular home computers, and more than 10 million were sold.

In 1985, Commodore's new Amiga series offered advanced imaging and video capabilities at affordable prices. A line of IBM-compatible PCs was also introduced, but the Amiga line was Commodore's mainstay until 1994, when the company filed for bankruptcy. See Amiga and Commodore 64.

The Commodore PET

The $595 PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) contained its own tape cassette (on the left) and a whopping 4K of RAM. (Image courtesy of Steven Stengel, www.oldcomputers.net)

Amiga and Video Toaster Software

The Amiga and Video Toaster were touted as the most affordable broadcast-quality video editing system on the market. Digital effects were created in the Amiga and converted to the analog tape decks in real time. (Image courtesy of NewTek, Inc.)

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Commodore

(1) A high rank in knightly medieval and religious orders.

(2) A high rank in the hierarchy of Masonic lodges.

(3) In the USSR (before 1926), Western Europe, and the USA, the title of the president of a yacht club.

(4) The head administrator of horse, ski, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, and other races and tours.

(5) In Great Britain, the Netherlands, and several other countries, the rank of a commander of a group of ships who does not hold the rank of admiral.

(6) In Russia from the early 18th century to the early 19th, the naval rank (Russian, komandor) between captain first class and rear admiral fourth class.

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References in periodicals archive

Commodore Gaming said the venture provides a new platform for games and will enable mobile users to try classic titles.

Kiloo establishes classic Commodore games agreement for mobile

On one ship, Commodore Perry watches as boats full of Japanese soldiers approach.

Alien ships of fire: would the Shogun allow Americans into Japan? His decision would shape the future of two world powers

Then the newly named Galaxy Commodore - designed more for inland waters than the open ocean - headed south, stopping at ports along the way and ducking into harbor whenever bad weather or rough seas threatened.

Spruced-up vessel heads south

Commodore Grant, who was one of the gallant men to wrest New France from the French, was the second son of the Laird of Glenmorriston, Inverness, Scotland, and came to Canada with a Highland regiment, the Glengarry Fencibles, raised for Canadian service in 1759.

A salty story from a local scrapbook

A Commodore C-64/Excelerator plus Disk Drive (without a monitor) computer system was listed at $249.00.

Increased access and use of disability related information for consumers

Rattigan, who was hired last month as chief executive officer at LaCrosse, WI-based Heileman, is seeking up to $9 million in damages from Commodore.

New Heileman boss wins lawsuit against his former employer

Three distinct lines of Commodore computers are being marketed to meet varying classroom needs: The Commodore 64 and 128 are targeted to budget-conscious schools requiring multiple machines.

Commodore re-enters education market with emphasis on support

Addressing the ceremony, Commodore Alveer Ahmed Noor assured that his team was fully geared up to shoulder this prestigious responsibility.

Pakistan Navy takes over command of Combined Maritime Task Force for 11th time

During the stay at Bandar Abbas, the Pakistani Mission Commander along with Commanding Officers called on Commander of Iran's First Naval Region, Commodore Mojtaba Mohammadi.

Pakistan Navy, PMSA ships visit Iran

In the amateur category, Air Commodore Jawad Zafar Chaudhry, Group Captain Mohammad Awais Mirza and Group Captain Aqeel Tahir grabbed first, second and third net prizes, while first, second and third gross prizes were taken away by Air Commodore Imran Ahsen Ali, Air Commodore Mohammad Ikram-ul-Haq Noor and Group Captain Rana Iftikhar, respectively.

CAS Veterans Golf Championship held

Abu Dhabi-based Commodore MEP plans to form a standalone sister company called Commodore Middle East.

UAE: Commodore MEP to form new MEP company