Meanings
plural virtual memories
- uncountableusuallycomputingAn abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system that allows a process to access a virtual address space, such as one that is larger than the available physical memory, by translating virtual addresses to physical memory locations.
1 more example
Most modern computer architectures provide hardware support for virtual memory. Operating systems use virtual memory to provide support for large address spaces on systems with limited physical memory, to provide protection both within and between applications, to provide data sharing, and to provide artificial contiguity.
1989, Vincent F. Russo, Roy H. Campbell, “Virtual memory and backing storage management in multiprocessor operating systems using object-oriented design techniques”, in OOPSLA Proceedings, ACM, page 268Synonyms: virtual storage
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system that allows a process to access a virtual address space, such as one that is larger than the available physical memory, by translating virtual addresses to physical memory locations.
More synonyms by meaning
noun(computer science) memory created by using the hard disk to simulate additional random-access memory; the addressable storage space available to the user of a computer system in which virtual addresses are mapped into real addresses
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 虛擬內存 /虚拟内存
- 虛擬內存 /虚拟内存 (xūnǐ nèicún)an abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system
Czech virtuální paměť
- virtuální paměťan abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system
Finnish virtuaalimuisti, näennäismuisti
- virtuaalimuistian abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system
- näennäismuistian abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system
Greek εικονική μνήμη
- εικονική μνήμη (eikonikí mními)an abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system
Russian виртуа́льная па́мять
- виртуа́льная па́мять (virtuálʹnaja pámjatʹ)an abstraction implemented by hardware and the operating system
Cite this entry
virtual memory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/virtual%20memory
“virtual memory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/virtual%20memory. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “virtual memory,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/virtual%20memory.
Source: virtual memory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.