dead time

American  

noun

1. downtime.

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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of dead time

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dead time

“But it cuts down on the stress. The dead time is actually sitting behind the wheel. I can read, do some work or just relax on the bus. It’s more productive and less frustrating.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2023

The changes had long been pushed by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred in an effort to combat the increase in dead time over four decades and suffocation of offense in the age of analytics.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 9, 2022

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