virtualize

American  

[vur-choo-uh-lahyz] / ˈvɜr tʃu əˌlaɪz /

verb (used with object)

virtualized, virtualizing

1. Computers. to create a simulated or extended version of (a computer, operating system, data storage device, etc.) using software: the resulting device is not itself independent, but functions and presents itself to the user as a single, physical entity.

   A virtualized server can boost processing power and reduce costs.

2. Digital Technology. to store, access, or carry out online or by means of a computer; computerize or digitize.

   Now that they’ve virtualized the filing of tax returns, the IRS is more efficient.

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virtualize British  

/ ˈvɜːtʃʊəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to transform (something) into an artificial computer-generated version of itself which functions as if it were real

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Other Word Forms

• virtualization
  noun

Etymology

Origin of virtualize

First recorded in 1830–40; virtual + -ize

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

virtualize virtualized virtualizing

Nebius is the only AI-compute provider with a “truly global GPU fabric,” Liani highlighted, adding that other neoclouds can only virtualize within a single physical facility.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 24, 2026

And it’s much, much more efficient to aggregate all of those servers into one place, to virtualize them, slice them, dice them.

From The Verge ● Oct. 29, 2019

"You're able to virtualize people and resources," says Marthin De Beer, the Cisco executive who led the development of the company's telepresence offerings, in an interview conducted between two telepresence suites.

From BusinessWeek ● Feb. 17, 2011

PG&E gives customers a rebate of $150 to $300 for every server they virtualize.

From BusinessWeek ● May 14, 2007

As the backlash against touch screen and virtualized controls gathered strength in the past decade, Mazdas became increasingly valued for their friendlier and more familiar driver’s environment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

But this virtualized “survival of the fittest” still fails to fulfill the criterion of open-endedness: the complexity and novelty of digital organisms in Tierra and its ilk eventually plateau.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 6, 2023

Music in the moment, the meaning of lived, not virtualized, was everything to Lupu.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2022

From nearly the beginning, Linden’s vision was that Second Life be a place for escapism—users would visit the three-dimensional virtualized world for no other reason than that it was somewhere else to be.

From Slate ● Feb. 9, 2022

Just like the virtual shutter button you press to capture a Pixel shot, the act of “taking a photo” is virtualized, segmented into multiple, invisible, AI-assisted steps.

From The Verge ● Feb. 7, 2019

Note that I say it’s only creating the “impression” of this 3D sound, because, like its predecessor, the Ambeo Plus is virtualizing these channels.

From The Verge ● Sep. 1, 2022

So like Sonos does with the second-generation Beam, Polk is virtualizing those Dolby Atmos height surround sound effects.

From The Verge ● Mar. 15, 2022

By virtualizing these functions through NFV, a carrier can deliver them faster, make changes quickly, and drive better overall service levels for end customers.

From Forbes ● Jul. 20, 2015

They focused on virtualizing the quick wins in the first few years, but many stopped right before the finish line.

From Forbes ● Dec. 5, 2012

But in this instantaneous, virtualizing age, this kind of testimony confronts a new variety: a testimony of aggregate, average, good-enough truths.

From New York Times ● Mar. 12, 2010