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microinstruction

American  
[mahy-kroh-in-struhk-shuhn] / ˌmaɪ kroʊ ɪnˈstrʌk ʃən /

noun

Computers.
  1. an instruction that defines part of a machine-language instruction in terms of simpler operations.


microinstruction British  
/ ˈmaɪkrəʊɪnˌstrʌkʃən /

noun

  1. computing an instruction produced within an arithmetic and logic unit in accordance with a microprogram, that activates a particular circuit to perform part of the operation specified by a machine instruction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of microinstruction

First recorded in 1955–60; micro- + instruction