dead time

American  

noun

1. downtime.

2. Electronics. an interval during which an actuating signal produces no response.

---

dead time British  

noun

1. electronics the interval of time immediately following a stimulus, during which an electrical device, component, etc, is insensitive to a further stimulus

---

Etymology

Origin of dead time

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The dog days of summer are also a historically dead time in Hollywood, when power brokers take lengthy vacations and the pace of deal-making stalls.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 28, 2023

“What was really removed from the game was that dead time — pitchers walking around the mound, batters fixing their batting gloves, taking extra pitches in the bullpen, walking in from there.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 21, 2023

Mr Gidney, principal dentist at a practice in Monmouthshire which has 7,000 patients, said the "dead time" was limiting how many non-urgent patients they could see and creating a "bottleneck" in the system.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2021

For a rapidly changing game, there is nothing to lose by creatively trying to generate more action and reduce dead time.

From New York Times • Apr. 14, 2021

When, during the 3:00-4:00 o’clock dead time, I finally sit down to wrap silver, my flesh seems to bond to the seat.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich