paging
UK[ˈpeɪdʒɪŋ]US[ˈpeɪdʒɪŋ]
n
The process of dividing a computer's memory into fixed-size blocks called pages.
n
The transfer of these pages between the main memory and a secondary storage device.
n
The action of calling someone's name or sending a message over a public address system to locate them.
Morpheme Breakdown
pag
ing
pag
sheet
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'paging' originates from the Latin 'pagina', which referred to a fastened sheet, such as a piece of papyrus or parchment attached to a scroll. This evolved into the English 'page', denoting a single side of a leaf in a book. In computing, the term was metaphorically adopted in the mid-20th century, where a block of memory was conceptualized as a 'page'. The suffix '-ing' transforms the noun into a process noun, thus 'paging' literally means 'the process of handling pages', whether in the context of memory management or locating a person via a public address system.
Analysis
Structure: pag (sheet) + ing (noun suffix)
pag (from Latin 'pagina', meaning a sheet of paper, a page, or a column of writing). ing (a native English suffix forming verbal nouns, indicating an action or process).
Examples
The operating system uses paging to manage memory efficiently.
Excessive paging to the hard disk can significantly slow down a computer.
There was a paging announcement at the airport for the missing passenger.