dynamic

views updated May 23 2018

dy·nam·ic / dīˈnamik/ • adj. 1. (of a process or system) characterized by constant change, activity, or progress: a dynamic economy. ∎  (of a person) positive in attitude and full of energy and new ideas: she's dynamic and determined. ∎  (of a thing) stimulating development or progress: the dynamic forces of nature. ∎  Physics of or relating to forces producing motion. Often contrasted with static. ∎  Linguistics (of a verb) expressing an action, activity, event, or process. Contrasted with stative. ∎  Electr. (of a memory device) needing to be refreshed by the periodic application of a voltage. ∎ Electr. of or relating to the volume of sound produced by a voice, instrument, or sound recording equipment.2. Mus. relating to the volume of sound produced by an instrument, voice, or recording: an astounding dynamic range.• n. 1. a force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process: evaluation is part of the basic dynamic of the project.2. Mus. another term for dynamics (sense 3).DERIVATIVES: dy·nam·i·cal adj.dy·nam·i·cal·ly / -ik(ə)lē/ adv.

dynamic

views updated May 23 2018

dynamic Capable of changing or of being changed. With reference to operating systems, the implication is that the system is capable of changing while it continues to run. As an example, the total amount of memory available may be defined by the contents of a word within the operating system. If this word can be altered without stopping the system and reloading a fresh copy of the operating system, then it is possible to alter dynamically the total amount of memory on the system.

With reference to programming, the adjective is applied to operations that take place while a program is running, as compared with those that take place during the compilation phase. For example, dynamic arrays are allocated space while the program is running.

Compare static.

dynamic

views updated May 17 2018

dynamic pert. to force. XIX. — F. dynamique — Gr. dunamikós, f. dúnamis strength (rel. to dúnasthai be able); see -IC.
So dynamical XIX, dynamics XVIII.