micro-operation
nounUK /ˈmaɪ.krəʊˌɒp.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
US /ˈmaɪ.kroʊˌɑːp.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
A micro-operation is a very tiny step that a computer does to finish a bigger job.
The processor breaks each instruction into several micro-operations before it can run it.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A very small or minor action within a larger process.
The manager split the project into micro-operations that each team could handle quickly.
3. In computer architecture, a low-level action performed during one clock cycle.
Fetching the operand is a single micro-operation in this CPU design.
4. A small surgical or technical procedure performed on a very fine scale.
The lab used micro-operations to adjust the tiny circuit.