emptive

comparative more emptive · superlative most emptive

1. rareResponding to or acting to counteract something when it happens (rather than beforehand).

   Emptive priority: The service to non-priority customer is stopped as soon as a priority customer arrives.

   2006, A. M. Natarajan, P. Balasubramani, Operations Research, Dorling Kindersley, published 2009, →ISBN, page 498

   2 more examples

   Mike Malone recalls how the shaving of his fiancée's head was more of an “emptive” strike, since her hair was already on its way out.

   2004, Marc Silver, Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) During Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond, Rodale, →ISBN, page 227

   This situation can be dealt with either in an emptive or pre-emptive fashion. In an emptive system the new entry waits for the other to be completed before beginning. In a pre-emptive system the queue can stop the current entry half way through its execution to start the new one.

   2010, N. K. Singh, Simulation of Network Traffic Based on Queing Theory Using OPNET, page 12

   Synonyms: reactive