microcode, n. Computing.
(ˈmaɪkrəʊkəʊd)
Also micro-code.
[f. micro- + code n.1]
Microinstructions collectively, esp. those incorporated into a microprocessor; a microinstruction or sequence of microinstructions.
| 1958 Communications Assoc. Computing Machinery Jan. 3 The present codes should be considered to be micro-codes. 1970 A. Chandor et al. Dict. Computers 254 Micro-code, synonymous with micro instruction. Ibid., Micro instruction,..also known as microcode. 1979 Kraft & Toy Mini/Microcomputer Hardware Design iii. 130 A macroinstruction residing in program memory is fetched into the instruction register, and its operation code is used to derive a pointer to the starting address of a microcode segment located in the control ROM. 1987 Electronics & Wireless World Jan. 103/1 In the 68020 microcode within the device takes care of coprocessor interfacing. 1989 Nature 16 Feb. 591/2 Although computer programs were added to the US Copyright Act by Congress in 1980, the status of microcode—the set of instructions determining how a processor's components will perform a specific function—was unclear. 1992 Computing 5 Nov. 3/3 Tandem fault-tolerant systems around the world were brought to a shuddering halt on Sunday by a bug in the microcode. |