processor cycle
nounUK /ˈprəʊ.ses.ə ˈsaɪ.kəl/
US /ˈprɑː.ses.ɚ ˈsaɪ.kəl/
A processor cycle is one tiny step of work that a computer chip does.
The chip can finish billions of processor cycles every second.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The repeating set of steps a processor follows to fetch, decode, and run one instruction.
The processor cycle begins when the chip fetches the next instruction from memory.
3. One tick of the clock signal that keeps a processor's parts moving in step.
Each processor cycle is timed by a steady clock pulse.
4. A single round of processing in a factory or business workflow.
The order moved through one processor cycle before shipping.