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• random access
  random access

  noun

  the capacity of a videodisc or compact disc player that allows the user to select and replay any portion without starting at the beginning.
• random-access
  random-access

  adjective

  direct-access.

random access

¹ American  

noun

1. the capacity of a videodisc or compact disc player that allows the user to select and replay any portion without starting at the beginning.

2. availability, as of a service or facility, whenever needed or desired.

   an executive's need for random access to legal experts.

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random-access ² American  

[ran-duhm-ak-ses] / ˈræn dəmˈæk sɛs /

adjective

Computers.

1. direct-access.

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random access British  

noun

1. another name for direct access

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Etymology

Origin of random access

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

random access random-access

Moreover, those tight market conditions apply to both high-end memory chips and the more traditional dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026

Memory prices have soared 80%-90% on quarter in 1Q so far, according to Counterpoint’s data, driven by a sharp price increase in dynamic random access memory used in general-purpose servers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

He came away from those discussions believing that investors are undervaluing the degree to which AI has made memory, specifically the dynamic random access memory that is Micron’s bread and butter, “a more strategic asset.”

From Barron's ● Jan. 7, 2026

Ram - or random access memory - is used to store code while you use a device.

From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2026

The TRS-80 Mini-Disk System uses sequential or random access.

From Radio Shack TRS-80 Expansion Interface: Operator's Manual Catalog Numbers: 26-1140, 26-1141, 26-1142 by Anonymous

The crunch has been nicknamed "RAMaggedon" after the components called RAM, or "random-access memory".

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

The team connected the layers using vertical metal interconnects and successfully demonstrated three-dimensional logic circuits as well as static random-access memory cells.

From Science Daily ● May 30, 2026

UBS analyst Tim Arcuri estimates that such contracts will cover as much as 30% of shipments of total dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM, next year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

The PC is equipped with a central processing unit, graphics card, random-access memory and high-capacity storage — the very same equipment that multitrillion-dollar tech companies are now hoovering up to power their artificial-intelligence ambitions.

From MarketWatch ● May 23, 2026

He’ll also be looking to see how Nvidia manages supply constraints within dynamic random-access memory.

From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026