Paging

/ˈpeɪdʒɪŋ/ noun

Definition

The process of calling someone through a public address system or electronic device. In computing, a memory management technique that moves data between main memory and storage.

Etymology

From 'page' meaning to summon, originally referring to a page (young servant) calling someone. Computing sense developed from the metaphor of 'pages' of memory, like pages in a book.

Kelly Says

Hospital paging systems created their own linguistic culture with numeric codes (like '911' for emergency) that became so widespread they entered general usage. The transition from pagers to smartphones marked a significant shift in how we think about accessibility and constant communication.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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