wait state

1 definition found

wait state - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  wait state
  
     <architecture> A delay of one or more clock cycles added to
     a processor's instruction execution time to allow it to
     communicate with slow external devices.  The number and
     duration of wait states may be pre-configured or they may be
     controlled dynamically via certain control lines.
  
     (1996-10-16)