DICTIONARY OF
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FIFTH EDITION
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DICTIONARY OF
COMPUTING
FIFTH EDITION
S.M.H. Collin
www.bloomsbury.com
Originally published by Peter Collin Publishing
Fifth edition published 2004
Fourth edition published 2002
Third edition published 1998
Second edition published 1994
First published in Great Britain 1988
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
38 Soho Square, London W1D 3HB
© Copyright S.M.H. Collin, 1988, 1994, 1998, 2002
This edition © copyright Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 2004
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced in any form or by any means without the
permission of the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
eISBN-13: 978-1-4081-0225-1
Text processing and computer typesetting by Bloomsbury
Printed and bound in Italy by Legoprint
Text Production and Proofreading
Lesley Brown, Stephen Curtis, Howard Sargeant, Megan Thomson, Katy
McAdam, Joel Adams, Daisy Jackson, Charlotte Regan
All papers used by Bloomsbury Publishing are natural, recyclable products made from wood
grown in well-managed forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental
regulations of the country of origin.
Preface
This dictionary provides the user with a comprehensive range of the vocabulary
used in the field of computing. It covers all aspects of computing, including
hardware, software, peripherals, networks and programming, as well as many
applications in which computers are used, such as the Internet or desktop
publishing. It also describes the latest developments in networks, the Internet,
communications, programming, multimedia, processor design and storage
technology.
Each headword is explained in clear, straightforward English. Examples are given
to show how the words and phrases can be used in context. General comments
about particular items of interest, complex ideas or hardware or software
applications are given in separate boxes. Quotations from magazines and journals
are given to show how the words are used in real text.
The dictionary includes a number of product names and company names. The
trademarked names that are included are those that are judged to be of de facto
importance to users or important in the development of computer technology.
Pronunciation
The following symbols have been used to show the pronunciation of the main
words in the dictionary.
Stress has been indicated by a main stress mark ( ) and a secondary stress mark
( ). Note that these are only guides, as the stress of the word changes according to
its position in the sentence.
Vowels
ɑ
ɒ
a
aυ
aə
aυə
ɔ
ɔ
e
eə
e
eυ
i
i
ə
ə
u
u
υ
υə
Consonants
back
harm
stop
type
how
hire
hour
course
annoy
head
fair
make
o
word
keep
happy
about
fit
near
annual
pool
book
tour
shut
b
d
ð
d
f
h
j
k
l
m
n
ŋ
p
r
buck
dead
other
jump
fare
gold
head
yellow
cab
leave
mix
nil
sing
t
tʃ
θ
v
w
x
print
rest
save
shop
take
change
theft
value
work
loch
z
zone
s
ʃ
measure
Computing.fm Page 1 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
A
A1 /e/ symbol the hexadecimal equivalent
A
of the decimal number 10
A2 /e/ abbr ampere
A: used in some operating systems to denote the first disk drive on the system
Å abbr angstrom
abandon /ə b ndən/ verb to clear a
document, file or work from a computer’s
memory without saving it ć Once you
have abandoned your spreadsheet, you
cannot retrieve it again.
abb. add. abbr abbreviated addressing
abbreviated address /ə bri vietid ə
dres/ noun (in a network) a user name
that has fewer characters than the full
name, making it easier to remember or
type in or faster to decode
abbreviated
addressing
/ə
bri vietid ə dresŋ/ noun the use of abbreviated addresses. Abbr abb. add.
abbreviated
installation
/ə
bri vietid nstə leʃ(ə)n/ noun the installing of new hardware or software without restoring the previous backup settings
of the operating system
abbreviation /ə bri vi eʃ(ə)n/ noun a
short form of a word, command or instruction ć Within the text, the abbreviation
proc is used instead of processor.
ABD abbr Apple Desktop Bus
abend / bend/ noun an unexpected
stoppage of a program that is being run,
caused by a fault, error or power failure ć
An interrupt from a faulty printer caused
an abend. Also called abnormal end, abA
A:
Å
abandon
aberration / bə reʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. distortion of a light beam or image caused by
defects in the optical system 2. distortion
of a television picture caused by a corrupt
signal or incorrect adjustment
ablation /ə bleʃ(ə)n/ noun a method of
writing data to an optical storage device in
which a laser burns a hole or pit, representing digital bits of data, into the thin metal
surface of the storage device
aberration
ablation
COMMENT: A laser burns a hole or pit (which
represents digital bits of data) into the thin
metal surface of the storage device.
abb. add.
abbreviated address
abbreviated addressing
abbreviated installation
abbreviation
ABD
abend
normal termination
abend code / bend kəυd/ noun a speabend code
cial number, generated by the operating
system, that identifies the type of error that
has caused a particular problem
abend recovery program / bend r
k v(ə)ri prəυ r m/ noun a piece of
software that will reload a program or system software and restart it at the point at
which an abend occurred
abend recovery program
abnormal end / b nɔ m(ə)l
abnormal end
noun same as abend
end/
abnormal termination / b nɔ m(ə)l
abnormal termination
t m neʃ(ə)n/ noun same as abend
abort /ə bɔ t/ verb to end a process in the
abort
event of a malfunction occurs by switching
the computer off manually or by an internal feature ć The program was aborted by
pressing the red button.
aborted connection /ə bɔ td kə
nekʃ(ə)n/ noun a connection to a network or online service that has not been
shut down correctly
abort sequence /ə bɔ t si kwəns/
noun a unique sequence of bits that indicates that the transmission will be terminated because of a fault, error or power
failure
About… /ə baυt/ a menu selection in the
SAA CUA front end that tells you who developed the program and gives copyright
information
above-the-fold /ə b v ðə fəυld/ adjective referring to the part of a webpage
that is seen by all users who call up the
page, because they do not have to scroll
down to read it. Compare below-the-fold
ABR / e bi ɑ / noun a service provided
by an ATM network that tries to provide
the bandwidth requested by a customer,
though it cannot guarantee to do so. Full
form available bit rate
aborted connection
abort sequence
About…
above-the-fold
ABR
Computing.fm Page 2 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
AB roll
2
pletely describes the operation to be perAB roll / e bi rəυl/ noun (in a multiformed, requiring no other data
media application) a sequence of two video or music segments that are synchroabsolute loader / bsəlu t ləυdə/
nised so that one fades as the second starts
noun a program that loads a section of
code into main memory
ABS / e bi es/ noun a programming instruction that returns the magnitude of a
absolute
maximum
rating
number without the number’s sign ć The
/ bsəlu t m ksməm retŋ/ noun a
command ABS(-13) will return the answer
statement of the maximum values or limits
13. Full form absolute function
of a system
absolute address / bsəlu t ə dres/
absolute positioning / bsəlu t pə
noun 1. a computer storage address that
zʃ(ə)nŋ/ noun the position of an object
directly, without any modification, accessin relation to a point of origin
es a location or device ć Program execuabsolute priority / bsəlu t pra
tion is slightly faster if you code only with
ɒrti/ noun (in the OS/2 operating sysabsolute addresses. Compare indexed
tem) the priority of a process that cannot
address 2. a computer storage address
be changed by the operating system
that can only access one location ̈ also
absolute
program
/ bsəlu t
called actual address, machine adprəυ r m/ noun a computer program
dress
written in absolute code
absolute addressing / bsəlu t ə
absolute time / bsəlu t tam/ noun
dresŋ/ noun the locating of a data word
(in CD-audio) the length of time that an
stored in memory by the use of its absolute
audio disc has been playing
address
absolute value / bsəlu t v lju /
absolute assembler / bsəlu t ə
noun the size or value of a number, regardsemblə/ noun a type of assembly lanless of its sign ć The absolute value of –
guage program designed to produce code
62.34 is 62.34.
that uses only absolute addresses and valabsorb /əb zɔ b/ verb to take in light,
ues
liquid or a signal
absolute cell reference / bsəlu t
absorptance /əb zɔ ptəns/ noun a
sel ref(ə)rəns/ noun a spreadsheet refermeasure of how completely an object or
ence that always refers to the same cell,
substance absorbs radiant energy. Oppoeven when copied to another location
site reflectance
absolute code / bsəlu t kəυd/ noun
absorption /əb zɔ pʃən/ noun the powbinary code that directly operates the cener loss of a signal when travelling through
tral processing unit, using only absolute
a medium, due to its absorptance
addresses and values. Also called actual
abstract data type / bstr kt detə
code, basic code
tap/ noun a general data type that can
absolute coordinates / bsəlu t
store any kind of information
kəυ ɔ dnətz/ plural noun coordinates
A-bus /e b s/ noun the main internal
that describe the distance of a point from
bus in a microprocessor
the intersection of axes
ac abbr academic organisation (NOTE:
absolute device / bsəlu t d vas/
used in email and website addresses)
noun an input device such as a tablet or
AC abbr alternating current
mouse that returns the coordinates of a
ACAP / e si e pi / noun an email syspointer within specified axes
tem developed to work with the IMAP4
absolute error / bsəlu t erə/ noun
email protocol to provide extra features
the value or magnitude of an error, ignorsuch as management of an address book.
ing its sign
Full form application configuration acabsolute expression / bsəlu t k
cess protocol (NOTE: It was originally
spreʃ(ə)n/ noun (in assembly language)
termed IMSP (Interactive Mail Support
the value of an expression that is not afProtocol).)
fected by program relocation
ACC / e si si / noun the most important
absolute
function
/ bsəlu t
internal CPU storage register, containing
f ŋkʃən/ noun full form of ABS
the data word that is to be processed ć
absolute instruction / bsəlu t n
Store the two bytes of data in registers A
str kʃən/ noun an instruction that comand B and execute the add instruction –
AB roll
absolute loader
ABS
absolute maximum rating
absolute address
absolute positioning
absolute priority
absolute program
absolute addressing
absolute time
absolute value
absolute assembler
absorb
absolute cell reference
absorptance
absolute code
absorption
abstract data type
absolute coordinates
A-bus
ac
absolute device
AC
ACAP
absolute error
absolute expression
ACC
absolute function
absolute instruction
Computing.fm Page 3 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
3
the answer will be in the ACC. Full form
accumulator
accelerated
accelerated graphics port
port /ək
pɔ t/ noun full
graphics
seləretd
r fks
form of AGP
acceleration time /ək selə reʃ(ə)n
tam/ noun 1. the time taken for a disk
drive to spin a disk at the correct speed,
from rest ć Allow for acceleration time in
the access time. 2. the total time between
an access instruction’s issue to a peripheral
and the transfer of the data
accelerator board /ək selə retə
bɔ d/, accelerator card /ək selə retə
kɑ d/ noun a circuit board that carries a
faster or more advanced version of the
same processor that runs your computer.
Adding an accelerator board to your computer makes it run faster.
accelerator key /ək selə retə ki /
noun a key that, when pressed together
with another, carries out a function that
would otherwise have to be selected from
a menu using a mouse ć Instead of selecting the File menu then the Save option, use
the accelerator keys Alt and S to do the
same thing and save the file.
accept /ək sept/ verb to establish a session or connection with another computing device
acceptable
use
policy
/ək
septəb(ə)l ju z pɒlsi/ noun a set of
rules that describe what a user can write or
do on the Internet without offending other
users. Abbr AUP
acceptance sampling /ək septəns
sɑ mplŋ/ noun the testing of a small random part of a batch to see if the whole
batch is up to standard
acceptance test /ək septəns test/
noun a test to check that a piece of equipment will perform as required or will reach
required standards
acceptance testing /ək septəns
testŋ/ noun the performing of an acceptance test
access / kses/ noun 1. the fact of being able to reach or use something ć to
have access to the computer room 2. the
fact of being allowed to use a computer
and read or alter files stored in it. This is
usually controlled by a security device
such as a password. ˽ to deny access to
refuse access to a circuit or system for reasons of workload or security í verb to call
up data which is stored in a computer ć
acceleration time
accelerator board
accelerator key
accept
acceptable use policy
acceptance sampling
acceptance test
acceptance testing
access
accession number
She accessed the employee’s file stored on
the computer.
access arm / kses ɑ m/ noun a mechanical device in a disk drive used to position the read/write head over the correct
track on a disk ć The access arm moves to
the parking region during transport.
access authority / kses ɔ θɒrəti/
noun permission to carry out a particular
operation on data
access-barred / kses bɑ d/ adjective prevented from accessing particular
data
access category / kses k tə (ə)ri/
noun a category that defines which files or
data a user can access and which he or she
cannot
access channel control / kses
tʃ n(ə)l kən trəυl/ noun (in a TokenRing network) the set of protocols that
manage the data transfer between a station
and a medium access control
access charge / kses tʃɑ d / noun a
cost due when logging onto a system or
viewing special pages on a bulletin board
access code / kses kəυd/ noun a series of characters or symbols that must be
entered to identify a user before access to
a computer is permitted
access control / kses kən trəυl/
noun a security device such as a password
that only allows selected users to use a
computer system or read files
access control byte / kses kən
trəυl bat/ noun (in a Token-Ring network) a byte following a start marker in the
token that indicates if the station can access the network
access controller / kses kən
trəυlə/ noun (in CD-i) an electronic device that transfers image data to the video
controller
access control list / kses kən trəυl
lst/ noun full form of ACL
access counter / kses kaυntə/
noun counter
access head / kses hed/ noun the
part of a disk drive that moves to the correct part of the disk’s surface and reads information stored on the disk
access hole / kses həυl/ noun an
opening in both sides of a floppy disk’s
casing allowing the read-write head to be
positioned over the disk’s surface
accession
number /ək seʃ(ə)n
n mbə/ noun a number in a record that
access arm
access authority
access-barred
access category
access channel control
access charge
access code
access control
access control byte
access controller
access control list
access counter
access head
access hole
accession number
Computing.fm Page 4 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
access level
4
cording changes to an access path in case
shows in which order each record was enof malfunction
tered
access level / kses lev(ə)l/ noun a
access period / kses pəriəd/ noun
a period of time during which a user can
predefined access category (NOTE: The
access data
lowest access level might allow the user
to only view data, the highest access levaccess permission / kses pə
el allows a user to do anything.)
mʃ(ə)n/ noun a description of all the acaccess line / kses lan/ noun a percess rights for a particular user
manently connected communications line
access point / kses pɔnt/ noun a
between a terminal and a computer
test point on a circuit board or in software,
access log / kses lɒ / noun a file on
allowing an engineer to check signals or
a website server computer that contains a
data
record of every visitor to the website,
access privilege / kses prvld /
showing when a person visited and which
noun the status granted to a user that alpages he or she viewed ć The access log is
lows him or her to see, read or alter files
invaluable – we produce graphs of the
access provider / kses prə vadə/
pages that are most popular using an acnoun same as ISP
cess log analyser program.
access rights / kses rats/ plural
access
mechanism
/ kses
noun the rights of a particular user to acmekənz(ə)m/ noun a mechanical device
cess a particular file or data object
that moves an access arm over the surface
access time / kses tam/ noun 1. the
of a disk
total time that a storage device takes beaccess method / kses meθəd/
tween the moment the data is requested
noun 1. a means used for the internal
and the return of the data ć The access
transfer of data between memory and distime of this dynamic RAM chip is around
play or peripheral devices. Differences in
200nS – we have faster versions if your
the methods used are often the cause of
system clock is running faster. 2. the length
compatibility problems. 2. a set of rules
of time required to find a file or program,
that allows a device to send data onto a neteither in main memory or a secondary
work. Token passing and CSMA/CD are
memory source
two methods commonly used in a local
access unit / kses ju nt/ noun (in a
area network.
Token-Ring network) a wiring concentraaccess method routines / kses
tor
meθəd ru ti nz/ plural noun software
accidental / ks dent(ə)l/ adjective
routines that move data between main
which happens by accident ć Always keep
storage and an output device
backup copies in case of accidental damaccess name / kses nem/ noun a
age to the master file.
unique name that identifies an object in a
accordion fold /ə kɔ diən fəυld/, acdatabase
cordion fanfold noun method of folding
access number / kses n mbə/
continuous paper, one sheet in one direcnoun the telephone number that a compution, the next sheet in the opposite directer dials up in order to be connected to an
tion, allowing the paper to be fed into a
Internet service provider or other network
printer continuously with no action on the
provider
part of the user. Also called fanfold
accessor / ksesə/ noun a person who
account /ə kaυnt/ noun (in a network
accesses data
or online system) a record of a user’s
accessory /ək sesəri/ noun an extra,
name, password and rights to access a netadd-on device, e.g. a mouse or printer, that
work or online system ć If you are a new
is attached to or used with a computer ć
user, you will have to ask the supervisor to
The printer comes with several accessocreate an account for you. í verb to keep
ries including a soundproof hood. (NOTE:
track of how much time and resources
The plural is accessories.)
each user of a network or online system
access path / kses pɑ θ/ noun a deuses
scription of the location of a stored file
accounting package noun a piece of
within the directory structure of a disk
software that automates a business’s acaccess path journalling / kses
counting functions ć We now type in each
pɑ θ d nəlŋ/ noun the process of retransaction into the new accounting packaccess level
access period
access permission
access line
access point
access log
access privilege
access provider
access rights
access mechanism
access time
access method
access unit
access method routines
accidental
access name
accordion fold
access number
accessor
account
accessory
access path
accounting package
access path journalling
Computing.fm Page 5 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
5
age rather than write it into a ledger. Also
called accounts package
account name /ə kaυnt nem/ noun
the unique name of a user on a network or
online system ć John Smith’s account
name is JSMITH.
accounts
package
/ə kaυnts
p kd / noun same as accounting
account name
accounts package
package
accumulate /ə kju mjυlet/ verb to
accumulate
gather several things together over a period of time ć We have gradually accumulated a large databank of names and addresses. (NOTE: accumulates – accumulating – accumulated)
accumulator /ə kju mjυletə/, accuaccumulator
mulator register noun full form of ACC
accumulator
address
/ə
kju mjυletə ə dres/ noun an address
accumulator address
accessed by an instruction held in the ACC
accumulator shift instruction /ə
accumulator shift instruction
kju mjυletə ʃft n str kʃən/ noun a
command to shift the contents of an ACC
left or right by one bit
accuracy / kjυrəsi/ noun 1. the extent
to which something is correct or true 2. the
extent to which a person avoids errors 3.
the total number of bits used to define a
number in a computer (NOTE: The more
accuracy
bits allocated the greater the accuracy of
the definition.)
accuracy
accuracy control character
control
character
kjυrəsi kən trəυl k rktə/ noun a
code that indicates whether data is accurate or whether the data should be disregarded by a particular device
ACD / e si di / noun a specialised telephone system that can handle lots of incoming calls and direct them to a particular operator according to programmed instructions in a database. Full form
/
ACD
automatic call distribution
ACDI abbr asynchronous communicaACDI
tions device interface
ACF abbr advanced communications
function
ACH / e si etʃ/ noun an automated
network that links banks together and enables them to handle payments made from
one bank to another through electronic
points of sale and withdrawals from cashpoints. Full form automated clearing
ACF
ACH
house
achromatic colour / ekrəυm tk
achromatic colour
k lə/ noun a grey colour within the range
between black and white displayed by a
graphics adapter
acoustic delay line
ACIA / e si a e/ noun a circuit that allows a computer to transmit and receive
serial data using asynchronous access. Full
form asynchronous communications
ACIA
interface adapter
ACK / e si ke/ noun a signal that is
ACK
sent from a receiver to indicate that a transmitted message has been received and that
it is ready for the next one ć The printer
generates an ACK signal when it has received data. Full form acknowledge
Ackerman’s function / kəmənz
f ŋkʃən/ noun a recursive function used
to test the ability of a compiler to cope
with recursion
acknowledge /ək nɒld / noun full
form of ACK í verb 1. to tell a sender that
a message or letter has been received 2. to
send a signal from a receiver to show that
a transmitted message has been received
Ackerman’s function
acknowledge
(NOTE: acknowledges – acknowledging –
acknowledged)
acknowledge character /ək nɒld
k rktə/ noun a special code sent by a reacknowledge character
ceiver to indicate to the transmitter that the
message has been correctly received
acknowledged mail /ək nɒld d
mel/ noun a function that signals to the
sender when an electronic mail message
has been read by the recipient
ACL / e si el/ noun a security system
that has a list of user names and passwords
that is checked by the operating system to
find out if a particular user is allowed to
access or use a resource or feature of the
shared computer or network. Full form acacknowledged mail
ACL
cess control list
acoustic /ə ku stk/ adjective referring
acoustic
to sound
acoustic coupler /ə ku stk k plə/
acoustic coupler
noun a device that connects to a telephone
handset, converting binary computer data
into sound signals to allow it to be transmitted down a telephone line
COMMENT: The acoustic coupler also converts
back from sound signals to digital signals
when receiving messages. It is basically the
same as a modem but uses a handset on
which a loudspeaker is placed to send the signals rather than direct connection to the
phone line. It is portable and clips over both
ends of a normal telephone handset. It can be
used even in a public phone booth. The
acoustic coupler has generally been replaced
by a direct cable link from the computer’s modem to the standard telephone socket.
acoustic delay line /ə ku stk d le
lan/ noun an outdated data storage methacoustic delay line
Computing.fm Page 6 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
acoustic feedback
6
od that delays data in the form of sound
ActionMedia / kʃən mi diə/ a trade
pulses as they travel across a medium
name for a digital video system developed
by Intel that uses its i750 video processor
acoustic
feedback
/ə ku stk
chip to allow a computer to record, play
fi db k/ noun feedback
back and manipulate digital video
acoustic hood /ə ku stk hυd/ noun a
action message / kʃən mesd /
soundproof cover put over a line printer to
noun a message displayed to inform the
cut down its noise
user that an action or input is required
acoustic
memory
/ə ku stk
action-object / kʃən əb d ekt/ noun
mem(ə)ri/ noun same as acoustic store
(in a SAA CUA front end ) an object to
acoustic panel /ə ku stk p n(ə)l/
which a user specifies an action should be
noun a soundproof panel placed behind a
applied
device to reduce noise
activate / kt vet/ verb 1. to start a
acoustic store /ə ku stk stɔ / noun
process or to make a device start working
an outdated form of regenerative memory
ć Pressing CR activates the printer. 2. (in
that uses an acoustic delay line. Also
an authoring tool or programming lancalled acoustic memory
guage) to make a button or menu option or
ACPI / e si pi a/ noun a software sysfield on a screen layout available to a user
tem that allows the operating system to
ć If the button or field is not activated, it is
configure compatible hardware automatinormally displayed greyed out and does
cally. Full form advanced configuration
not respond if a user selects it. (NOTE: acActionMedia
acoustic feedback
acoustic hood
action message
acoustic memory
action-object
acoustic panel
activate
acoustic store
ACPI
and power interface
acquisition / kw zʃ(ə)n/ noun the
acquisition
accepting, capturing or collecting of information
Acrobat Adobe Acrobat
ACS / e si es/ noun a computer linked
Acrobat
ACS
to a network that controls several dial-up
modems and allows remote users to connect to the server using a modem link and
gain access to the network. Full form
asynchronous communication server
action / kʃən/ noun (in a SAA CUA
front end ) a user event, e.g. pressing a speaction
cial key, that moves the cursor to the action
bar at the top of the screen
action bar / kʃən bɑ / noun a top line
of the screen that displays the menu names
action bar pull-down / kʃən bɑ
pυl/ noun (in a SAA CUA front end ) a feature whereby the full menu is displayed
below the menu name when a user moves
the cursor to a particular menu name on
the action bar
action code / kʃən kəυd/ noun (in a
SAA CUA front end ) a single letter associated with a particular menu option to
speed up selection. When the letter action
code is pressed, the menu option is selected.
action cycle / kʃən sak(ə)l/ noun
the series of steps required to carry out a
process or operation on data, e.g. reading,
processing, output and storage
action list / kʃən lst/ noun (in a SAA
CUA front end ) a list of choices
action bar
action bar pull-down
action code
action cycle
action list
tivates – activating – activated)
active / ktv/ adjective busy, working
active
or being used
application / ktv
pl
keʃ(ə)n/ noun (in a multitasking operating system) an application currently being
used by a user
active area / ktv eəriə/ noun 1. (in
a spreadsheet program) the area that contains data bounded by the top left hand
corner and the bottom right hand cell 2. (in
a graphical window) an area that will start
or select a function if the user moves the
pointer into it with a mouse
active cell / ktv sel/ noun the spreadsheet cell that is currently selected with a
cursor or pointer
active code page / ktv kəυd
ped / noun a code page currently in use
by the system
active database / ktv detəbes/
noun a database file currently being accessed by a database management program
active device / ktv d vas/ noun an
electronic component that requires electrical power to operate and provides gain or
a logical function
Active
Document
/ ktv
dɒkjυmənt/ noun a standard Windows
application that is accessed from within a
web browser and controlled by special
commands in the webpage
active file / ktv fal/ noun a file that
is currently being worked on
active
active application
active area
active cell
active code page
active database
active device
Active Document
active file
Computing.fm Page 7 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
7
active gateway / ktv
etwe/
noun (in a network) a gateway that exchanges routing information
active high / ktv ha/ noun an electronic signal that is valid when it is high or
logical one or at five volts
active hub / ktv h b/ noun a hub
that selectively directs packets of data according to their address or content
active line / ktv lan/ noun a line in
a communications link or port that is being
used to transfer data or carry control signals
active link / ktv lŋk/ noun a link
currently being used to transfer information
active low / ktv ləυ/ noun an electronic signal that is valid when it is low or
logical zero or at zero volts
active menu / ktv menju / noun a
menu selection currently displayed below
a menu bar
active node / ktv nəυd/ noun a
node on a network connected to or available to connect to another node
active pixel region / ktv pks(ə)l
ri d ən/ noun an area of a computer
screen that can display graphic image information
active printer / ktv prntə/ noun a
printer that is currently connected to the
computer’s printer port
active program / ktv prəυ r m/
noun (in a multitasking system) a program that is currently in control of the
processor
active record / ktv rekɔ d/ noun a
record that is being updated or accessed
active region / ktv ri d (ə)n/ noun
an area on a screen that will start an action
or has been defined as a hotspot
Active Server Page / ktv s və
ped / noun a webpage that is created
only when accessed by a visitor, allowing
the website to display up-to-date information or information from a database ć The
database search results page is implemented as an Active Server Page. Abbr
active gateway
active high
active hub
active line
active link
active low
active menu
active node
active pixel region
active printer
active program
active record
active region
Active Server Page
ASP
active star / ktv stɑ / noun a network consisting of a central point with
nodes branching out, in which a central
processor controls and routes all messages
between devices
active state / ktv stet/ noun an
electronic state in which an action occurs
active star
active state
actual data transfer rate
active storage / ktv stɔ rd / noun
a main storage, fast access RAM whose locations can be directly and immediately
addressed by the CPU
active streaming format / ktv
stri mŋ fɔ m t/ noun full form of ASF
active video / ktv vdiəυ s n(ə)l/,
active video signal noun a part of a video signal that contains picture information
ActiveVRML / ktv vi ɑ em el/
active storage
active streaming format
active video
ActiveVRML
noun VRML
active window / ktv wndəυ/ noun
active window
1. an area of the display screen where the
operator is currently working 2. (in a GUI
or SAA CUA front end ) the window that is
currently the focus of cursor movements
and screen displays. ı window
ActiveX / ktv eks/ a trade name for a
programming language and program definition used to create small applications designed to enhance the functionality of a
webpage. ı Java, VBScript
ActiveX
COMMENT: ActiveX applications, called applets, are often used to add database or multimedia effects to a website that cannot be
supported with basic HTML commands.
When a user visits the web page that uses the
ActiveX applet, the program is automatically
downloaded by the user’s browser and run on
the user’s computer.
activities / k tvtiz/ plural noun jobs
or tasks which are being performed on a
computer
activity level / k tvəti lev(ə)l/ noun
the maximum number of jobs that can run
in a multitasking system
activity light / k tvti lat/ noun
small light or LED on the front of a disk
drive or computer that indicates when the
disk drive is reading or writing data to disk
activity loading / k tvti ləυdŋ/
noun a method of organising disk contents
so that the most often accessed files or programs can be loaded quickly
activity ratio / k tvti reʃiəυ/ noun
the number of files currently in use compared to the total stored
activity trail / k tvti trel/ noun a
record of activities carried out
actual address / ktʃuəl ə dres/
noun same as absolute address
actual code / ktʃuəl kəυd/ noun
same as absolute code
actual data transfer rate / ktʃuəl
detə tr nsf ret/ noun the average
number of data bits transferred in a period
of time
activities
activity level
activity light
activity loading
activity ratio
activity trail
actual address
actual code
actual data transfer rate
Computing.fm Page 8 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
actual instruction
8
actual instruction / ktʃuəl n
adaptive packet assembly /ə
str kʃən/ noun the resulting instruction
d ptv p kt ə sembli/ noun a method
executed after the modification of an origused by the MNP error correcting protocol
inal instruction
to adjust the size of data packets according
to the quality of the telephone line. The
actuator / ktʃυetə/ noun a mechanibetter the line, the bigger the packet size.
cal device that can be controlled by an external signal, e.g. the read/write head in a
adaptive routing /ə d ptv ru tŋ/
disk drive
noun the ability of a system to change its
communications routes in response to varACU / e si ju / noun a device that alious events or situations such as line faillows a computer to call stations or dial telure (NOTE: The messages are normally
ephone numbers automatically. Full form
actual instruction
adaptive packet assembly
actuator
adaptive routing
ACU
automatic calling unit
ad abbr Andorra (NOTE: used in email
and website addresses)
A/D abbr analog to digital
ADA / e di e/ noun a high-level proad
A/D
ADA
gramming language that is used mainly in
military, industrial and scientific fields of
computing
adapt /ə d pt/ verb to change, adjust or
modify something so that it fits ć Can this
computer be adapted to take 5.25 inch
disks?
adaptation / d p teʃ(ə)n/ noun the
ability of a device to adjust its sensitivity
range according to various situations
adapter /ə d ptə/, adaptornoun a device that allows two or more incompatible
devices to be connected together
adapter card /ə d ptə kɑ d/ noun a
card that plugs into an expansion bus in a
PC and adds a new function to the computer or allows it to communicate with another device (NOTE: A sound card is a type of
adapt
adaptation
adapter
adapter card
adapter card that plugs into an expansion connector and allows sound to be
played back or recorded.)
adapter plug /ə d ptə pl / noun a
sent along the most cost-effective path
unless there is a problem with that route,
in which case they are automatically rerouted.)
adaptive system /ə d ptv sstəm/
noun a system that is able to alter its readaptive system
sponses and processes according to inputs
or situations
adaptor /ə d ptə/ noun another spelling of adapter
ADB abbr Apple Desktop Bus
ADC / e di si / noun an electronic device that converts an analog input signal to
a digital form, which can be processed by
a computer. Full form analog to digital
adaptor
ADB™
ADC
converter
add / d/ verb 1. to put figures together to
add
make a total 2. to put things together to
form a larger group ć The software house
has added a new management package to
its range of products.
addend / dend/ noun the number added to the augend in an addition
adder / də/ noun a device or routine
that provides the sum of two or more inputs, either digital or analog
addend
adder
adapter plug
plug that allows plugs with different numbers or shapes of pins to be fitted into the
same socket
adaptive channel allocation /ə
d ptv tʃ n(ə)l lə keʃ(ə)n/ noun
provision of communications channels according to demand rather than a fixed allocation
adaptive compression /ə d ptv
kəm preʃ(ə)n/ noun a data compression
system that continuously monitors the data
it is compressing and adjusts its own algorithm to provide the most efficient compression
adaptive channel allocation
adaptive compression
adaptive differential pulse code
modulation /ə d ptv dfə renʃ(ə)l
adaptive differential pulse code modulation
p ls kəυd mɒdju leʃ(ə)n/ noun full
form of ADPCM
COMMENT: A parallel adder takes one clock cycle to add two words, a serial adder takes a
time equal to the number of bits in a word to
add.
adder-subtractor / də səb tr ktə/
adder-subtractor
noun a device that can either add or subtract
add file / d fal/ noun a file in which
new records are stored prior to updating
the main database
add-in / d n/ noun, adjective something that is added to something else í adjective that is added to something else
addition /ə dʃ(ə)n/ noun an arithmetic
operation that produces the sum of an addend and augend
additional /ə dʃ(ə)nəl/ adjective which
is added or extra ć Can we link three additional workstations to the network?
add file
add-in
addition
additional
Computing.fm Page 9 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
9
addition record /ə dʃ(ə)n rekɔ d/
addressing method
address base /ə dres bes/ noun the
addition record
address base
noun a record with changes used to update
a master record or file
addition time /ə dʃ(ə)n tam/ noun
the time an adder takes to carry out an addition operation
addition without carry /ə dʃ(ə)n
wð aυt k ri/ noun an addition operation without any carry bits or words
additive colour / dətv k lə/ noun a
colour produced by mixing two or three
colours from red, green and blue
add-on / d ɒn/ adjective added to a
computer system to improve its performance ć The add-on hard disk will boost the
computer’s storage capabilities. Opposite
built-in í noun a piece of software or
hardware that is added to a computer system to improve its performance
add on board / d ɒn bɔ d/ noun same
as expansion board
add register / d red stə/ noun a register that is an adder
address /ə dres/ noun 1. a number allowing a central processing unit to reference a physical location in a storage medium in a computer system ć Each separate
memory word has its own unique address.
2. a unique number that identifies a device
on a network ć This is the address at
which the data starts. í verb to put the location data onto an address bus to identify
which word in memory or storage device
is to be accessed ć A larger address word
increases the amount of memory a computer can address.
addressability /ə dresə blti/ noun
the control available over pixels on screen
addressable /ə dresəb(ə)l/ adjective
which can be addressed ć With the new
operating system, all of the 5MB of installed RAM is addressable.
addressable cursor /ə dresəb(ə)l
k sə/ noun a cursor which can be programmed to be placed in a certain position
addressable point /ə dresəb(ə)l
pɔnt/ noun a point or pixel in a graphics
system that can be directly addressed
addressable terminal /ə dresəb(ə)l
t mn(ə)l/ noun a terminal that will only
accept data if it has the correct address and
identification number in the message
header
address access time /ə dres kses
tam/ noun the total time which a storage
device takes between the moment the data
is requested and the return of the data
part of an address that defines the origin to
which the logical address is added
address book /ə dres bυk/ noun 1. (in
a network) a list of node addresses 2. (in
electronic mail ) a list of the network addresses of other users to which electronic
mail can be sent
address bus /ə dres b s/ noun a physical connection that carries the address
data in parallel form from the central
processing unit to external devices
address code /ə dres kəυd/ noun a
special code that identifies the part of a
document that is an address
address
computation
/ə dres
kɒmpjυ teʃ(ə)n/ noun an operation on
address data in an instruction
address decoder /ə dres di kəυdə/
noun a logical circuit that will produce a
signal when a certain address or range is
placed on the address bus
address field /ə dres fi ld/ noun 1. (in
a network) the part of a packet that contains the address of the destination node 2.
(in programming) the part of a computer
instruction that contains the location of the
operand
address format /ə dres fɔ m t/ noun
the set of rules defining the way the operands, data and addresses are arranged in an
instruction
address harvester /ə dres hɑ vstə/
noun a computer program that collects
email addresses from the Internet
address highway /ə dres hawe/
noun the set of physical connections that
carry the address data in a parallel form
between the central processing unit and
memory or external devices
addressing /ə dresŋ/ noun the process
of accessing a location in memory
addressing capacity /ə dresŋ kə
p sti/ noun the largest location that a
certain program or CPU can directly address, without special features, e.g. virtual
memory or memory banks
addressing level /ə dresŋ lev(ə)l/
noun zero-level: operand is the address
part of the instruction; first-level: operand
stored at the address of the instruction;
second-level: operand stored at the address
given in the instruction
addressing
method
/ə dresŋ
meθəd/ noun the manner in which a section of memory is located
addition time
addition without carry
additive colour
add-on
add on board
add register
address
addressability
addressable
addressable cursor
addressable point
addressable terminal
address access time
address book
address bus
address code
address computation
address decoder
address field
address format
address harvester
address highway
addressing
addressing capacity
addressing level
addressing method
Computing.fm Page 10 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
addressing mode
10
adjacent domains /ə d es(ə)nt dəυ
addressing mode /ə dresŋ məυd/
menz/ plural noun two domains linked
noun a way in which a location is adby two adjacent nodes
dressed, e.g. sequential, indexed or direct
adjacent nodes /ə d es(ə)nt nəυdz/
address mapping /ə dres m pŋ/
plural noun two nodes connected by a path
noun the translation of a virtual address to
that does not connect any other node
an absolute real address
adjunct register / d ŋkt red stə/
address mark /ə dres mɑ k/ noun a
noun a 32-bit register in which the top 16
special code on a disk that indicates the
bits are used for control information and
start of sector location data
only the bottom 16 bits are available for
address mask /ə dres mɑ sk/ noun a
use by a program
pattern of binary data bits that is used to
adjustment /ə d stmənt/ noun the
block out parts of an address data word. It
making of a slight change made to someis normally used to separate the network
thing so that it works better, or a change
and subnet parts of an address within a
made ć The brightness needs adjustment.
long Internet or IP address. ć The address
AdLib / d lb/ noun a type of sound card
mask ‘111000’ will block off the last three
for a PC with basic sound playback and
bits of any address data.
MIDI functions
address
modification
/ə dres
administrator /əd mnstretə/ noun a
mɒdf keʃ(ə)n/ noun the changing of
person who is responsible for looking after
the address field, so that it can refer to a
a network, including installing, configurdifferent location
ing and maintaining it
address register /ə dres red stə/
Adobe Acrobat /ə dəυbi krəb t/ a
noun register in a computer that is able to
trade name for a piece of software that
store all the bits that make up an address
converts documents and formatted pages
,which can then be processed as a single
into a file format that can be viewed on alunit
most any computer platform or using a
address
resolution
/ə dres
web browser on the Internet (NOTE: For
rezəlu ʃ(ə)n/ noun the converting pf an
example, if you publish a newsletter, you
Internet address into the correct physical
could lay out the pages using a desktop
network address that corresponds to the
publish system, print the pages for a padistant computer or resource
per version and convert the files to Acrobat format allowing you to distribute the
address resolution protocol /ə
same formatted pages on CD-ROM or
dres rezə lu ʃ(ə)n prəυtəkɒl/ noun
over the Internet.)
full form of ARP
Adobe Systems /ə dəυbi sstəmz/ a
address space /ə dres spes/ noun the
software company that developed products
total number of possible locations that can
including Acrobat, ATM, and PostScript
be directly addressed by the program or
Adobe Type Manager /ə dəυbi tap
CPU
m nd ə/ a trade name for a standard for
address strobe /ə dres strəυb/ noun a
describing scalable fonts, used with Apple
signal in the form of a pulse that indicates
System 7 and Microsoft Windows to prothat a valid address is on the address bus
vide fonts that can be scaled to almost any
address track /ə dres tr k/ noun
point size, and printed on almost any printtrack on a magnetic disk containing the ader. Abbr ATM
dresses of files or other data stored on othADP / e di pi / noun data processing
er tracks
done by a computer. Full form automatic
address translation /ə dres tr ns
data processing
leʃ(ə)n/ noun an address produced by
ADPCM / e di pi si em/ noun a
calculating an expression
CCITT standard that defines a method of
address word /ə dres w d/ noun a
converting a voice or analog signal into a
computer word that contains the address
compressed digital signal. Full form
data. In a small micro it is usually made up
adaptive differential pulse code modof two data words.
ulation
add time / d tam/ noun a period of
ADSL / e di es el/ noun high-speed
time taken either by a CPU or adder to pertransmission standard that uses the same
form one addition operation
copper telephone wires as a normal teleaddressing mode
address mapping
adjacent domains
adjacent nodes
adjunct register
address mark
address mask
adjustment
AdLib
address modification
administrator
address register
Adobe Acrobat
address resolution
address resolution protocol
address space
Adobe Systems
Adobe Type Manager
address strobe
address track
ADP
address translation
ADPCM
address word
add time
ADSL
Computing.fm Page 11 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
11
phone service, but is much faster than a
standard modem or a digital system such
as ISDN. Full form Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line (NOTE: As well as the
speed, ADSL provides a user with an ‘always on’ connection to the Internet –
there is no need to dial an access
number and no delay. Typically, companies provide ADSL for a fixed monthly
rental; data is usually transferred from
the Internet to the user’s computer at
2Mbps but transferred from the user’s
computer to the Internet at a slower rate
of 256Kbps.)
advanced configuration and power interface /əd vɑ nst kən f jə
advanced
reʃ(ə)n ən paυə ntəfes/ noun full
form of ACPI
Advanced Micro Devices /əd
vɑ nst makrəυ d vasz/ full form of
Advanced Micro Devices
AMD
advanced peer-to-peer networking /əd vɑ nst pə tə pə netw kŋ/
advanced peer-to-peer networking
noun full form of APPN
advanced power management /əd
advanced power management
vɑ nst paυə m nd mənt/ noun full
form of APM
advanced program to program
communications
/əd vɑ nst
advanced program to program communications
prəυ r m tə prəυ r m kə mju n
keʃ(ə)nz/ noun full form of APPC
Advanced Research Projects
Agency Network /əd vɑ nst ri s tʃ
Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
prɒd ekts ed (ə)nsi netw k/ noun
full form of ARPANET
advanced run-length limited /əd
vɑ nst r n leŋθ lmtd/ noun a method of storing data onto a hard disk that is
faster and more efficient than RLL. Abbr
advanced run-length limited
ARLL
advanced technology attachment
advanced technology attachment
/əd vɑ nst tek nɒləd i
noun full form of ATA
ə t tʃmənt/
advanced technology attachment
packet interface /əd vɑ nst tek
advanced technology attachment packet interface
nɒləd i ə t tʃmənt p kt ntəfes/
noun a type of standard interface that is
used for CD-ROMs. Abbr ATAPI. Also
called ATA packet interface
Advanced Television Systems
Committee /əd vɑ nst telv (ə)n
Advanced Television Systems Committee
sstəmz kə mti/ noun full form of
ATSC
version
/əd vɑ nst
v ʃ(ə)n/ noun a program with more
complex features for use by an experienced user
advanced
advanced version
aggregate bandwidth
advanced wave modulation /əd
advanced wave modulation
vɑ nst wev mɒdjυleʃ(ə)n/ noun full
form of AWM
advisory lock /əd vaz(ə)ri lɒk/ noun
(in a multitasking system) a lock placed
on a region of a file by one process to prevent any other process accessing the same
data
advisory
system
/əd vaz(ə)ri
sstəm/ noun an expert system that provides advice to a user
aerial perspective / eəriəl pə
spektv/ noun a view of a three-dimensional landscape as if the viewer is above
the scene
AFAIK abbr as far as I know (NOTE: used
advisory lock
advisory system
aerial perspective
AFAIK
in emails and text messages)
marketing
/ə fliət
mɑ ktŋ/ noun a type of marketing that
uses a central website to advertise and sell
products and services from other sites
affirmative /ə f mətv/ adjective
meaning ‘yes’ ˽ the answer was in the
affirmative the answer was ‘yes’
affirmative acknowledgement /ə
f mətv ək nɒld mənt/ noun an ACK
from the receiver that it has accepted the
message and is ready for the next one
AFIPS abbr American Federation of Information Processing Societies
AFP / e ef pi / noun a protocol used to
communicate between workstations and
servers in a network of Apple Macintosh
computers. Full form Appletalk Filing
affiliate
affiliate marketing
affirmative
affirmative acknowledgement
AFIPS
AFP
Protocol
afterglow / ɑ ftə ləυ/ noun
afterglow
persist-
ence
after-image / ɑ ftə md / noun a
copy of a block of data that has been modified
AGC / e d i si / noun an electronic circuit that adjusts the level of an incoming
signal so that it is suitable for the next part
of the circuit. Full form automatic gain
after-image
AGC
control
agent / ed ənt/ noun 1. a program or
piece of software that runs on a workstation in a network and sends performance
and statistical information about the workstation to a central network management
console 2. a series of commands or actions
that are carried out automatically on a particular file or data
aggregate / r ət/ noun a collection
of data objects
aggregate bandwidth / r ət
b ndwdθ/ noun the total bandwidth of a
agent
aggregate
aggregate bandwidth
Computing.fm Page 12 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
aggregate function
12
about something ć The alert box warned
channel carrying a multiplexed data
stream
me that I was about to delete all my files.
alert condition /ə l t kən dʃ(ə)n/
aggregate
function
/
r ət
noun a status of a particular object or def ŋkʃən/ noun a mathematical database
vice that triggers an alarm
function performed on a selected field in
every record in a selected database
algebra / ld brə/ noun the use of letters in certain mathematical operations to
aggregate line speed / r ət lan
represent unknown numbers or a range of
spi d/ noun the maximum speed at which
possible numbers
data can be transmitted through a particualgebraic language / ld brek
lar channel
l ŋ wd / noun a context-free language
aggregate
operator
/
r ət
ALGOL / l ɒl/ noun a high-level proɒpəretə/ noun a command in a database
gramming language using algorithmic
management program that starts an aggremethods for mathematical and technical
gate function
applications. Full form algorithmic lanAGP / e d i pi / noun a dedicated bus
guage
between a graphics controller and main
algorithm / l ərð(ə)m/ noun a set of
memory that allows data to be transferred
rules used to define or perform a specific
very quickly without using the main proctask or to solve a specific problem
essor. Full form accelerated graphics
aggregate function
alert condition
algebra
aggregate line speed
algebraic language
aggregate operator
ALGOL
AGP
algorithm
port (NOTE: It is used with the Intel Pentium II processor to provide very highspeed three-dimensional graphics and
video processing. This port does not replace a PCI bus but works with it.)
AI / e a/ noun the design and developAI
ment of computer programs that attempt to
imitate human intelligence and decisionmaking functions, providing basic reasoning and other human characteristics. Full
form artificial intelligence. ı IKBS
aiming symbol / emŋ smb(ə)l/,
aiming field noun a symbol displayed on
screen which defines the area in which a
light-pen can be detected
airbrush / eə br ʃ/ noun (in graphics
software) a painting tool that creates a diffuse pattern of dots, like an mechanical
airbrush ć We used the airbrush to create
the cloud effects in this image.
air gap / eə p/ noun a narrow gap between a recording or playback head and
the magnetic medium
AIX / e a eks/ a trade name for a version
of UNIX produced by IBM to run on its
range of PCs, minicomputers and mainframes. Full form advanced interactive
aiming symbol
airbrush
air gap
AIX
executive
A law / ə lɔ / noun a method of encoding
A law
digital audio data so that an 8-bit data
word can contain a 13-bit audio sample
alert /ə l t/ noun a warning message
sent from software to warn a person or application that an error or problem has occurred
alert box /ə l t bɒks/ noun a warning
panel displayed on screen to warn a user
alert
alert box
‘…image processing algorithms are step by step procedures for performing image processing operations’ [Byte]
‘…the steps are: acquiring a digitized image, developing an algorithm to process it, processing the image, modifying the algorithm until you are satisfied
with the result’ [Byte]
algorithmic / l ə rðmk/ adjective
algorithmic
expressed using algorithms
algorithmic language / l ərðmk
algorithmic language
l ŋ wd / noun full form of ALGOL
alias / eliəs/ noun a representative name
alias
given to a file, port, device or spreadsheet
cell or range of cells ć The operating system uses the alias COM1 to represent the
serial port address 3FCh.
aliasing / eliəsŋ/ noun jagged edges
that appear along diagonal or curved lines
displayed on a computer screen caused by
the size of each pixel
alias name / eliəs nem/ noun another
name that is used on a network instead of
the user name
alien / eliən/ adjective not fitting the
usual system
alien disk / eliən dsk/ noun a disk formatted on another system or containing
data in a format that cannot be read or understood ć When you have an alien disk
select the multi-disk option to allow you to
turn the disk drive into an alien disk reader.
alien disk reader / eliən dsk ri də/
noun an add-on device that allows a computer to access data on disks from other
computers or systems
align /ə lan/ verb 1. to make sure that
the characters to be printed are spaced and
levelled correctly, either vertically or horialiasing
alias name
alien
alien disk
alien disk reader
align
Computing.fm Page 13 Friday, December 19, 2003 7:16 PM
13
zontally 2. to arrange numbers into a column with all figured lines up against the
right hand side (right-aligned) or the lefthand side (left-aligned) 3. to ensure that a
read/write head is correctly positioned
over the recording medium
aligner /ə lanə/ noun a device used to
make sure that the paper is straight in a
printer
aligning edge /ə lanŋ ed / noun an
edge of an optical character recognition
system used to position a document
alignment /ə lanmənt/ noun the correct spacing and levelling of printed characters ˽ in alignment correctly aligned
alignment pin /ə lanmənt pn/ noun a
peg that fits in a hole to ensure that two devices are correctly aligned
allocate / lə ket/ verb to divide a period of time or a piece of work in various
ways and share it out between users ć The
operating system allocated most of main
memory to the spreadsheet program.
aligner
aligning edge
alignment
alignment pin
allocate
(NOTE: allocates – allocating – allocated)
allocation / lə keʃ(ə)n/ noun the diallocation
viding of something such as memory, disk
space, printer use, operating system time,
or a program or device in various ways
allocation routine / lə keʃ(ə)n ru
ti n/ noun a short program that divides
the memory resources of a system between
the software and peripherals that use it
allocation unit / lə keʃ(ə)n ju nt/
noun a sector or set of sectors on a hard
disk that is used to store a file or part of a
file
all points addressable mode / ɔ l
pɔnts ə dresəb(ə)l məυd/ noun a
graphics mode in which each pixel can be
individually addressed and its colour and
attributes defined. Also called APA mode
alpha / lfə/ noun 1. same as alpha test
ć The new software is still in an alpha
product stage. 2. an item of data that defines the properties of a pixel or part of an
image
ALPHA / lfə/ noun a 64-bit RISC processor chip developed by Digital Equipment Corporation
alpha beta technique / lfə bi tə
tek ni k/ noun a free structure technique
used in artificial intelligence for solving
game and strategy problems
allocation routine
allocation unit
all points addressable mode
alpha
ALPHA
alpha beta technique
alphabetic
alphabetic character set
character
set
lfəbetk k rktə set/ noun the set of
characters, both capitals and small letters,
that make up the alphabet
/
alphanumeric operand
alphabetic string / lfəbetk strŋ/
alphabetic string
noun a string that only contains alphabetic
characters
alphabetise / lfəbetaz/, alphabetize verb to put items into alphabetical order ć Enter the bibliographical information and alphabetise it. (NOTE: alphabetises – alphabetising – alphabetised)
alpha blending / lfə blendŋ/ noun
control over the transparency of a graphical object, normally used to display complex graphical objects such as glass and
water
alpha channel / lfə tʃ n(ə)l/ noun
(in 32-bit graphics systems) the top eight
bits that define the properties of a pixel
(NOTE: The lower 24 bits define the pixel’s
colour.)
alphageometric / lfəd i əυ metrk/
adjective referring to a set of codes that instruct a teletext terminal to display various
graphics patterns or characters
alphameric / lfə merk/ adjective US
same as alphanumeric
alphamosaic / lfəməυ zek/ adjective (character set) used in teletext to provide alphanumeric and graphics characters
alphanumeric / lfənjυ merk/ adjective using the letters of the alphabet, the
Arabic numerals and punctuation marks
(NOTE: The US term is alphameric.)
alphanumeric array / lfənjυmerk
ə re/ noun an array whose elements are
letters and numbers
alphabetise
alpha blending
alpha channel
alphageometric
alphameric
alphamosaic
alphanumeric
alphanumeric array
alphanumeric
alphanumeric characters
characters
lfənjυmerk k rktəz/ plural noun
Roman letters and Arabic numerals and
other signs such as punctuation marks.
Also called alphanumerics
alphanumeric data / lfənjυmerk
detə/ noun data that represents the letters of the alphabet and the Arabic numerals
/
alphanumeric data
alphanumeric
alphanumeric display
display
lfənjυmerk d sple/ noun a display
device able to show characters as well as
numbers
alphanumeric key / lfənjυmerk
ki / noun a keyboard key which produces
a letter, symbol or figure
/
alphanumeric key
alphanumeric
alphanumeric keyboard
keyboard
lfənjυmerk ki bɔ d/ noun a keyboard containing character keys as well as
numerical keys
/
alphanumeric
alphanumeric operand
/
operand
lfənjυmerk ɒpər nd/ noun an oper-
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