APU

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

APU
Stands forAuxiliary power unit
Meanings2
CategoriesTransportation & Travel, Technology & Computing

APU has two meanings. It stands for Auxiliary power unit (aviation) or Accelerated processing unit (computer hardware).

Meanings of APU at a glance

#APU stands forContext
1Auxiliary power unitTransportation & Travel › Aviation
2Accelerated processing unitTechnology & Computing › Computer Hardware

1. Auxiliary power unit

Transportation & Travel · Aviation Abbreviations

Small gas-turbine engine, usually in the tail cone of an airliner, supplying electrical power and compressed air for air conditioning and engine starting when the main engines are off. Many airports restrict APU use at the gate to reduce noise and emissions.

Example: The APU is inoperative, so we'll need a ground air cart to start the engines and the cabin may be warm.

The steady whine passengers hear while boarding is often the APU. On many twins it can also be started in flight as a backup power source: in the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson," Captain Sullenberger started the APU after both engines failed, keeping the flight controls fully powered.

2. Accelerated processing unit

Technology & Computing · Computer Hardware Abbreviations

AMD's name for a chip that combines CPU cores and a capable graphics processor on one die, avoiding the need for a separate graphics card. Ryzen processors with a "G" suffix are APUs, as are the custom chips in the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Steam Deck.

Example: A Ryzen 7 8700G APU can play many esports games without a graphics card.

AMD introduced the term in 2011 with its Llano chips, the result of its 2006 acquisition of the graphics company ATI. Intel's processors with integrated graphics are functionally similar, but Intel does not use the APU label. Because APUs share system RAM with the graphics cores, fast dual-channel memory noticeably improves their gaming performance.

More aviation abbreviations

  • AIRMET – Airmen's Meteorological Information
  • AME – Aircraft maintenance engineer
  • AOG – Aircraft on ground
  • AP – Autopilot
  • ARTCC – Air Route Traffic Control Center
  • ASM – Available seat miles
  • ASOS – Automated Surface Observing System
  • ATA – Actual time of arrival

See all 142 aviation abbreviations →

More computer hardware abbreviations

  • AGP – Accelerated Graphics Port
  • AHCI – Advanced Host Controller Interface
  • AIO – All-in-one computer
  • ALU – Arithmetic logic unit
  • ARM – Advanced RISC Machines
  • ATX – Advanced Technology eXtended
  • BMC – Baseboard management controller
  • CD-R – Compact Disc Recordable

See all 151 computer hardware abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.