A computer or special hardware that stores and retrieves dATA from a dATAbase. It is specially designed for dATAbase access and is coupled to the main (front-end) computer(s) by a high-speed channel. This contrasts with a dATAbase server, which is a computer in a {local area network} that holds a dATAbase. The dATAbase machine is tightly coupled to the main CPU, whereas the dATAbase server is loosely coupled via the network. [Example?] (2004-03-11)