synchronous

views updated May 17 2018

syn·chro·nous / ˈsingkrənəs/ • adj. 1. existing or occurring at the same time: glaciations were approximately synchronous in both hemispheres.2. (of a satellite or its orbit) making or denoting an orbit around the earth or another celestial body in which one revolution is completed in the period taken for the body to rotate about its axis.DERIVATIVES: syn·chro·nous·ly adv.

synchronous

views updated May 23 2018

synchronous Involving or requiring a form of computer control operation in which sequential events take place at fixed times, usually determined by a clock signal of fixed frequency. This requires predetermination of the length of time required by each class/set of events; it requires no acknowledgment that preceding events have been completed. Compare asynchronous.