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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Asynchronous \A*syn"chro*nous\, adjective [Gr. ? not + synchronous.] Not simultaneous; not concurrent in time; -- opposed to {synchronous}.
Syn: nonsynchronous, unsynchronized, unsynchronous. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
2. (Paleontology) occurring in different geologic times; -- of taxa/ {synchronous}
Syn: allochronic [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
3. chronologically misplaced; belonging to a different time or era
Syn: anachronic, anachronous, anachronistic [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
4. (Computers) occurring at different speeds in different computers connected by a data transmission link; -- said of methods data of transmission between computers. Opposite of {synchronous}. [PJC]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
asynchronous
adjective
1: (digital communication) pertaining to a transmission technique that does not require a common clock between the communicating devices; timing signals are derived from special characters in the data stream itself [ant: {synchronous}]
2: not synchronous; not occurring or existing at the same time or having the same period or phase [ant: {synchronous}]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
asynchronous Not synchronised by a shared signal such as {clock} or {semaphore}, proceeding independently. Opposite: {synchronous}.
1. A {process} in a {multitasking} system whose execution can proceed independently, "in the {background}". Other processes may be started before the asynchronous process has finished. 2. A communications system in which data transmission may start at any time and is indicated by a {start bit}, e.g. {EIA-232}. A data {byte} (or other element defined by the {protocol}) ends with a {stop bit}. A continuous marking condition (identical to stop bits but not quantized in time), is then maintained until data resumes. (1995-12-08)
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |