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

“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

“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

In the summer it was the tiempo muerto, the dead time, and the campesinos barely escaped starvation.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García