asynchronous

[ ey-sing-kruh-nuhs ]

adjective

not occurring at the same time: The factory has two asynchronous production lines with end products paired in final assembly and shipped to buyers.
(especially in education) occurring or able to be completed independently according to a person’s own self-paced schedule or within a broad window of time, but not coordinated to be completed in real time with another participant: Distance learners may earn participation points by attending real-time video chats, or by posting messages and replies in asynchronous discussion boards.

Digital Technology. relating to or being a computer operation that can occur independently, without waiting for another event: Asynchronous responses are returned to the client side without blocking for the completion of the database processing request.
Computers, Telecommunications. of, relating to, or operating without the use of fixed-time intervals coordinated by a clock, as data transmitted one byte or character at a time.

Origin of asynchronous

First recorded in 1740–50; a-⁶ + synchronous

The machine is thus internally synchronous with step counter instructions being asynchronous.
Preliminary Specifications: Programmed Data Processor Model Three (PDP-3) | Digital Equipment Corporation
This operation is completely asynchronous and is therefore handled differently than any of the preceding in-out operations.
Preliminary Specifications: Programmed Data Processor Model Three (PDP-3) | Digital Equipment Corporation

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