[tahym-shair-ing] 
| 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, time-share. a plan in which persons share ownership or rental costs of a vacation home, esp. a condominium, entitling each participant to use the residence for a specified time each year. |
[tahym-shair] verb, -shared, -shar⋅ing, noun | 1. | to use or occupy by time-sharing. |
| 2. | time-sharing (def. 2). |
| time-share (tīm'shâr') v. time-shared, time-shar·ing, time-shares v. tr.
To engage in time-sharing. n.
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| time-shar·ing (tīm'shâr'ĭng) n.
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time-sharing operating system
(Or "timesharing") An operating system feature allowing several users to run several tasks concurrently on one processor, or in parallel on many processors, usually providing each user with his own terminal for input and output. time-sharing is multitasking for multiple users.
(1998-04-24)
time-sharing
in data processing, method of operation in which multiple users with different programs interact nearly simultaneously with the central processing unit of a large-scale digital computer. Because the central processor operates substantially faster than does most peripheral equipment (e.g., video display terminals, tape drives, and printers), it has sufficient time to solve several discrete problems during the input/output process. Even though the central processor addresses the problem of each user in sequence, access to and retrieval from the time-sharing system seems instantaneous from the standpoint of remote terminals since the solutions are available to them the moment the problem is completely entered.
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