1. Archaic term for a register. On-line use of it as a synonym for
register is a fairly reliable indication that the user has been
around for quite a while and/or that the architecture under
discussion is quite old. The term in full is almost never used of
microprocessor registers, for example, though symbolic names for
arithmetic registers beginning in `A' derive from historical use of
the term accumulator (and not, actually, from `arithmetic').
Confusingly, though, an `A' register name prefix may also stand for
address, as for example on the Motorola 680x0 family.
2. A register being used for arithmetic or logic (as opposed to
addressing or a loop index), especially one being used to accumulate
a sum or count of many items. This use is in context of a particular
routine or stretch of code. "The FOOBAZ routine uses A3 as an
accumulator."
3. One's in-basket (esp. among old-timers who might use sense 1).
"You want this reviewed? Sure, just put it in the accumulator." (See
{stack}.)
[glossary]