hardware store—(U.S.) a store that sells tools and implements, usually made of metal (such as hinges, screws, hammers, etc.):
- We use chains that can be purchased at a hardware store.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase computer hardware store—a store handling computerrelated equipment:
- I just want to work in a computer hardware store putting people’s computers together.
software store—a store marketing computer-related products:
- Today, software comes loaded on the hard drive of your computer or in a box from a software store.