multitaskadj.
/ˈmʌltɪtɑːsk/, /ˈmʌltɪtask/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈtæsk/; see also multi- comb. form. Involving many tasks; (Computing) involving multitasking, capable of multitasking.
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society > computing and information technology > hardware > [adjective] > way of processing
parallel1948
time-shared1954
interleaved1956
multiprogramme1959
multiprogrammed1959
uniprocessor1963
multitask1965
multitasking1966
microprocessing1974
1965 B. I. Witt Concepts & Facilities OS/360 IBM SRL Ser. No. S360-36 83 Multitask operations, multiprogramming; called multitask operations to express parallel processing not only of many programs, but also of a single reenterable program used by many tasks.
1969 Current Anthropol. 10 119/1 In firmly bounded multi-task groups or communities, this equality has to extend to all the functions that come within the group's scope.
1979 Personal Computer World Nov. 32 (advt.) Together..we'll be demonstrating the Microstar 45 Plus multi-user, multi-task computer system in operation.
1985 Educ. Leadership May 26/2 I have seen many teachers merge the two approaches..and think of such a synthesis as a ‘structured multi-task’ approach.
1993 J. Park Instrumental Colour Formulation xi. 53 This is a reversal of a former trend in which small dedicated systems for individual tasks were preferred to large multi-task units.
1999 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 107 14 Our insight is also related to multitask analyses,..where otherwise nonconflicting tasks may crowd each other out.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
multitaskv.
/ˌmʌltɪˈtɑːsk/, /ˌmʌltɪˈtask/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈtæsk/; see also multi- comb. form. 1.
a. intransitive. Computing. (Of an operating system) to perform multitasking.
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1986 Daily Tel. 10 Mar. 20/8 The programs also illustrate one of the most hyped features of the Amiga, an ability to ‘multi-task’, that is run several quite different functions at the same time.
1989 PC Mag. (U.K. ed.) May 23/1 Although the 286 can multitask, DOS is still a single-threaded operating system.
2007 C. Gross Beginning C# 2008 xiii. 359 The operating system multitasks, by default, but whether or not your program multitasks depends on how you write your code.
b. intransitive. In extended use (of a person): to perform a number of tasks concurrently.
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1988 Los Angeles Times 28 Sept. (San Diego County ed.) v. 1/2 He claims that the relaxation derived from continued mental workouts will eventually result in..the ability to 'multi-task', his term for doing several complex tasks at one time.
1993 Washington Post 13 Aug. d5/4 Learn to multitask. Most moms do this naturally—talk on the phone, cook dinner, wipe a toddler's face, write the grocery list.
2000 N.Y. Times Mag. 5 Mar. 65/3 Cuban pounds out 1,000 e-mail letters a day. Even in the middle of an interview... ‘Go ahead,’ he tells a reporter, ‘I can multi-task.’
2008 C. Gross Beginning C# 2008 xiii. 359 Your brain allows you to multitask—you can prepare dinner while talking on the telephone.
2. transitive. Computing. To execute (programs) concurrently; (of a device, program, etc.) to run (several machines) jointly. Also in extended use.
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1990 S. California Computer Currents Aug. 48/1 (advt.) DESQview runs the programs you know and love in multiple windows, multitasks them and even lets you use a mouse.
1993 Compute July 1993 6/1 In virtual 8086 mode, also called V86 mode, the CPU emulates several 8086 machines in real mode, and it can multitask those machines.
1996 W. Shatner Return xxxiv. 261 As Bashir continued with the procedure, Data [sc. an android] multitasked his observations among the display screen, Kirk's skull, and Dr. Bashir.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1965v.1986