multitaskingn.
/ˌmʌltɪˈtɑːskɪŋ/, /ˌmʌltɪˈtaskɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈtæskɪŋ/; see also multi- comb. form. 1. Computing. The performance by a computer of a number of different tasks or jobs concurrently (as by interleaving or multiprocessing).
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > hardware > [noun] > central processing unit > ways of processing
interleaving1956
multiprocessing1961
parallelism1961
multitasking1966
interleave1967
microprocessing1974
1966 Datamation Sept. 68/1 Multi-tasking is defined as the use of a single CPU for the simultaneous processing of two or more jobs.
1981 Kilobaud: Microcomputing June 35/2 The traditional method, multitasking, uses a single central processing unit..to handle the programs for all of the users.
1986 What Micro? Apr. 48/2 It offers..a small taste of multi-tasking—you can order printing to go on while you're editing another piece of text.
2003 T. Bräunl Embedded Robotics iv. 43 A number of more or less independent tasks have to be taken care of, which requires some form of multitasking, even if only a single processor is available on the robot's controller.
2. More generally: the performance of several different tasks at the same time.
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1992 W. Safire in European Stars & Stripes 23 Feb. 18/2 Such companies require multilingual interpreters, and hire multimarket executives who engage in multitasking rather than do anything.
1998 R. W. Pew & A. S. Mavor Modeling Human & Organizational Behavior iv. 112 Divided attention and multitasking—doing several things at once—are ubiquitous in combat operations.
2000 Times 30 Aug. (Crème section) 8/3 (advt.) You will be responsible for assisting the Legal Recruitment team..dealing with changing priorities and multi-tasking.
2014 D. Ellis From Master Student to Master Employee (ed. 4) iii. 96/1 Watch TV and read a textbook. Talk on the phone and outline a paper. Write an e-mail and listen to a lecture. These are examples of multitasking.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
multitaskingadj.
/ˈmʌltɪtɑːskɪŋ/, /ˈmʌltɪtaskɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈməltiˌtæskɪŋ/; see also multi- comb. form. 1. Computing. Able to perform multitasking; of or relating to 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
1966 Datamation Sept. 68 (heading) Configuring multi-tasking systems.
1979 Personal Computer World Nov. 56/3 They are well used to multi-user, multitasking systems incorporating hard discs.
1983 Your Computer (Austral.) May 37/3 The MBC 1000 is also multi-user and multi-tasking.
1995 X Jrnl. May 82/1 It..runs as a UNIX application in MachTen's preemptive multitasking environment providing workstation-style operation on Macintosh hardware.
2009 G. B. Shelly & M. E. Vermaat Discovering Computers 2010 416/8 UNIX..is a multitasking operating system developed in the early 1970s by scientists at Bell Laboratories.
2. More generally: that performs or is able to perform several different tasks at the same time; (also) requiring such performance.
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1995 Progress (Clearfield, Pa.) 3 Apr. 12/3 Mom..was really tired of the multi-tasking event Easter became.
1999 Financial Times 9 Oct. 7/4 The site has been designed as simply and clearly as possible to appeal to children and today's multi-tasking teenagers.
2000 N.Y. Mag. 24 July 42/1 Rasiej is emerging as one of the most versatile players in manically multitasking New York.
2013 W. B. Wilcox & K. K. Kline Gender & Parenthood Introd. 4 These multitasking mothers had to prioritize tasks, tune out distractions, solve problems, make decisions, and change strategies when required.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1966adj.1966