Addressable

/əˈdresəbəl/ adjective

Definition

Able to be addressed or spoken to; in computing, describing data or memory that can be accessed directly.

Etymology

From 'address' + '-able' (capable of being), with roots in Old French and Latin, now primarily used in technical contexts to describe accessible system components.

Kelly Says

When programmers say memory is 'addressable,' they mean it has an address like your house does—each location has a unique number so the computer can find and talk to it instantly, which is why CPUs got so powerful.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.