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)