Word
virtual machine
Definitions
01software emulation of hardware
n. a software program that acts like a real computer, allowing you to run an entire operating system inside your current one.
n. a software implementation of a computer that executes programs like a physical machine, typically running on a hypervisor to isolate it from the host hardware.
“I installed a virtual machine on my laptop so I could test software for a different operating system.”
“The IT department migrated the legacy applications to a virtual machine to ensure they remained functional after the server hardware was upgraded.”
Technical
Usage
Often abbreviated as VM; usually takes the verbs 'run', 'host', or 'spin up'.
Antonyms
02runtime environment
n. a special software layer that runs code (like Java) so it can work on any type of computer.
n. a process-based software environment that executes bytecode, providing platform independence for high-level programming languages.
“Java programs run inside a virtual machine, which is why they work on both Windows and Mac.”
“The language's performance depends heavily on the efficiency of its virtual machine in translating bytecode into native machine instructions at runtime.”
Technical
Usage
Commonly used in the context of specific languages, such as the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
Synonyms
Etymology
Formed from the adjective virtual, denoting something that exists in effect though not in actual fact, and machine. The term gained prominence in the 1960s, notably associated with the development of the CP-40 and CP/CMS systems at IBM's Cambridge Scientific Center.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.