malloc

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noun

A subroutine in the C programming language's standard library for performing dynamic memory allocation.

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Meanings

nounmalloc (plural mallocs)

plural mallocs

  1. computingA subroutine in the C programming language's standard library for performing dynamic memory allocation.

    It compares the behavior of nine different mallocs when used with Hummingbird and GNU Emacs dynamic memory activity traces.

    2001, USENIX Association, Proceedings of the FREENIX Track: 2001 USENIX Annual Technical Conference
verbmalloc (third-person singular simple present mallocs, present participle mallocing, simple past and past participle malloced)

present singular third person mallocs · participle present mallocing · participle past malloced · past malloced

  1. computingTo allocate memory using the C programming language malloc subroutine.

Origin

Blend of map + allocate.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

malloc. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malloc

MLA

“malloc.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malloc. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “malloc,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/malloc.

Source: malloc on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.