run-time
Meaning
The period of time during which a computer program is actually executing or running.
The time at which a program is executed, as opposed to when it is compiled or written.
Structure
Usage
The error only occurs at run-time, not during compilation.
The application's memory usage is monitored during run-time.
This library provides essential support for the program's run-time environment.
Etymology
The compound noun "run-time" is a modern formation from the core vocabulary of English, specifically from the fields of computing and software engineering. It literally combines the action of a program 'running' (executing its instructions) with the 'time' during which this action occurs. This creates a clear functional distinction from other phases like 'compile-time' or 'design-time'. The term elegantly captures the conceptual shift from the static code to its dynamic, live execution period, making an abstract computational process concretely understandable through familiar temporal language.
Analysis
- run: From Middle English runnen, rennen, from Old English rinnan, iernan (to run, flow). A Germanic verb of Proto-Indo-European origin, here functioning as a verb root meaning to execute or operate a program. - time: From Old English tīma (a period, time), from Proto-Germanic tīmô. Functions as a noun indicating a duration or specific point.