virtual memory

American  

[vur-choo-uhl mem-uh-ree] / ˈvɜr tʃu əl ˈmɛm ə ri /

noun

1. Computers. Also called virtual storage. a system extending addressable memory beyond main storage through the use of secondary storage, managed by system software in such a way that programs can treat all of it together as addressable main storage.

---

virtual memory Scientific  

/ vûr′cho̅o̅-əl /

1. A memory management system in a computer that temporarily stores inactive parts of the content RAM on a disk, restoring it to RAM when quick access to it is needed. This allows software to operate as though the computer has more RAM than it actually does.

---

Other Word Forms

• virtual-memory adjective

Example Sentences

When Windows runs out of RAM for running programs it swaps them to virtual memory reserved on the computer’s drive.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 20, 2018

Finally, Windows may be configured to reserve more of your disk space for virtual memory than you need.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 20, 2018

Paul Mah says that disabling virtual memory is one of six ways to get a better laptop experience.

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2011

Both modules increase a computer's capacity using "virtual memory," a memory-expansion technique considerably more time consuming than true memory compression.

From Time Magazine Archive

A lyric-writing old gent named Turnlung is also an expert�a virtual memory bank of death and that other equable state, prenatal life.

From Time Magazine Archive