Bursty

/ˈbɜːrsti/ adjective

Definition

Characterized by sudden, intense bursts of activity, energy, or data transmission followed by quieter periods.

Etymology

From 'burst' (Old English 'berstan') + '-y' suffix meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by.' This modern technical term emerged in computer science and telecommunications.

Kelly Says

Traffic on the internet is naturally 'bursty'—it's not smooth and constant but happens in waves and surges, which is why your internet connection sometimes feels fast then slow, depending on what everyone else is doing!

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