virtual storage

noun

, Computers.

1. a system whereby addressable memory is extended beyond main storage through the use of secondary storage managed by system software in such a way that programs can treat all of the designated storage as addressable main storage.

virtual storage

noun

1. a computer system in which the size of the memory is effectively increased by automatically transferring sections of a program from a large capacity backing store, such as a disk, into the smaller core memory as they are required

Word History and Origins

Origin of virtual storage¹

First recorded in 1970–75