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  • time-sharing
    time-sharing
    noun
    a system or service in which a number of users at different terminals simultaneously use a single computer for different purposes.
  • time sharing
    time sharing

time-sharing

American  
[tahym-shair-ing] / ˈtaɪmˌʃɛər ɪŋ /

noun

  1. Computers. a system or service in which a number of users at different terminals simultaneously use a single computer for different purposes.

  2. Also a plan in which persons share ownership or rental costs of a vacation home, especially a condominium, entitling each participant to use the residence for a specified time each year.


time sharing British  

noun

    1. a system of part ownership of a property, such as a flat or villa, for use as a holiday home, whereby each participant buys the right to use the property for the same fixed period annually

    2. ( as modifier )

      a time-sharing system

    1. a system by which users at different terminals of a computer can, because of its high speed, apparently communicate with it at the same time Compare batch processing

    2. ( as modifier )

      a time-sharing computer

"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 time-sharing

First recorded in 1960–65


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

At Cardiff-based Tempo Time Credits, its time-sharing model is a bit different.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2023

It reminds me of research on coyotes in Chicago—both types of carnivores stay in the shadows during the day and roam at night, effectively time-sharing densely populated cities.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 14, 2023

Although he didn’t lose either of those fumbles, they appeared to cost him his time-sharing duties with Williams.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 3, 2022

At M.I.T., he designed hardware and software for time-sharing, operating systems, artificial intelligence and networking on the predecessor to the internet.

From New York Times ● Sep. 16, 2021

Here is how one history of the period describes the advent of time-sharing: This was not just a revolution.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

"People who are living with these medications are swapping notes with each other in real time, sharing experiences that rarely make it into a doctor's office visit or an official report."

From Science Daily ● May 24, 2026

He spent most of his time sharing the American dream story of Watson and his family.

From Slate ● Dec. 12, 2024

On Tuesday, Limp didn’t address the upcoming transition, other than to note the day was “bittersweet” because it would be his “last time sharing our fall product news.”

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2023

It looks as if all eight of them — the parents, three boys and three girls — were captured at the same time, sharing a happy family moment at a state park.

From New York Times ● Sep. 6, 2022

So far, we’ve spent most of the time sharing videos of dogs doing cute things and discussing hairstyles.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

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