instructionn.
/ɪnˈstrʌkʃən/, U.S. /ᵻnˈstrəkʃ(ə)n/ 1. An authoritative order to be obeyed; an oral or written command. Frequently in plural or as a mass noun: orders, directives.
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society > authority > command > command or bidding > [noun] > injunction or instruction > an injunction or instruction
charge138.
advisementa1387
instruction1410
jointc1475
injunction1526
special order1547
direction1576
encharge1595
direct1615
directing1632
directive1642
game law1820
mot d'ordre1905
1410 in Speculum (1939) 14 25 (MED) Oure forsaide soverain lord the kynge hath so set to this present Instruccion his prive seal and his signet also.
a1450 (c1435) J. Lydgate Life SS. Edmund & Fremund (Harl.) l. 993 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 431 (MED) Affter the fourme off his Instruccioun, He folwed theffect off his auysioun.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. clx. f. lxxxix Whan Lewys had gyuen answere..and geuen vnto theym other Instruccions he sent them forthe agayn.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 48/2 Somme of that company had..secret instruccion..to take him.
1642 F. Fairfax et al. Let. Meeting at York sig. A2 We read the fourth Article of our Instructions to the whole Company.
1681 W. Dugdale Short View Late Troubles xxxvii. 435 He severely rebuk't him, for neglecting his Mothers Commands, and his Instructions which were seriously to Ponderate on what he had said.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1725) I. ii. 242 He had an instruction to pass an act of indemnity.
1725 N. Robinson New Theory of Physick 287 He must strictly adhere to the following rules... If these Instructions..be but punctually attended to, he need not fear any Returns of his Cholic Pains.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth x, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. III. 261 Directions about the encampment..and such other instructions as might be necessary to the proper ordering of the field.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xxvii. 215 My voice could be heard, and my instructions understood.
1917 Times 28 Feb. 10/3 An Army Council instruction was issued last week limiting the sugar ration..to 7 oz per week.
1968 Civil Disturbances & Disasters (U. S. Dept. Army) 10-1/2 The decision, whether to take immediate action or to await instruction from higher authority.., depends on this initial evaluation.
2009 I. Thomson Dead Yard xv. 200 All were under strict instructions not to discuss their activities with anyone outside the group.
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society > communication > information > reporting > [noun] > a report
reckoningc1390
reporta1425
instruction1425
rehearsal?a1439
rapport1454
estatec1475
reportationc1475
reapport1514
remonstrancea1533
account1561
state1565
credit1569
referendary1581
delivery1592
tell1743
compte rendu1822
rundown1943
society > communication > information > [noun]
kithc900
avaymentc1315
learningc1386
information1390
knowledgea1398
witteringa1400
witting1417
advicec1425
hearinga1450
understanding1473
intelligence?a1475
intellectionc1475
wit1487
instructiona1535
myance1552
fact1566
aviso1589
facts and figures1727
tell1823
message1828
renseignement1841
khubber1878
dope1901
lowdown1905
info1907
poop1911
oil1915
score1938
gen1940
intel1961
scam1964
1425 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 3 I send yow copies and a trewe instruccion of þe seyd matier.
c1454 R. Pecock Folewer to Donet 86 Þese deedis..reduce þou into a lack and a defaut had in þe resoun, bi þe instruccioun now here bifore ȝouun to þee.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 69/2 The messenger sent back wt thanks, & some secret instruccion of ye protectors mind.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lxxviiv Or thei from thence departed, thei had knowledge and true instruccion that the Dolphyn..was reculed.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 84 May they..(if having the conveniences of leisure, and instructions) be pleased to perfect this my Catalogue.
3.
a. That which is taught; knowledge or authoritative guidance imparted by one person to another. Also as a count noun: a thing taught; a lesson; an informative or edifying rule or example (usually in plural). Cf. teaching n. 2b.
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society > education > [noun]
informationa1387
instructionc1425
eruditionc1460
culture?1510
education?1533
training1537
trainment1570
train1581
manurance1594
nurturing1629
schoolcraft1631
manurementa1639
manuring1726
schoolmastering1830
paideia1892
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > [noun]
sentimentc1374
assaya1387
proofa1387
feelingc1405
instructionc1425
experience1553
experiency1556
self-experience1599
trial1600
society > authority > control > [noun] > regulation > a regulation or rule
lawa1225
precepta1325
line1340
observancea1382
rulea1387
reglec1475
regimentc1485
reuglec1485
instruction1526
maxima1564
maxim1578
preception1620
reglement1622
positure1624
gnomon1627
regulationa1640
parapegm1646
rubric1891
reg1904
society > education > teaching > means of teaching > [noun] > point(s) of instruction
informationc1405
instruction1526
doctrinals1619
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 3071 Whan sche hadde þus..ȝoue instruccioun, Pleyn doctrine, and informacioun How he schal skape þe daungeris by & by.
c1429 Mirour Mans Saluacioune (1986) l. 1521 Crist wald be temptid to shewe til vs instruccioune Þat no man may lyve here without temptacioune.
c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock Donet (1921) 54 (MED) Þerfore wolde god þat..þe falle of summe persoonys myȝte be instruccioun and informacioun, warnyng and gastnes, to oþire.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Biiii We haue nat taken theyr errours..but all moralitees and instruccions of good maner and pollicy.
1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Henry VIII c. 1 §1 in Statutes of Realm (1963) III. 894 Suche bokes writinges..teachinges and instruccions, as be pestiferous and noysoome.
1605 P. Erondelle (title) The French garden... Or, a sommer dayes labour. Being an instruction for the attayning vnto the knowledge of the French tongue.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. iv. 57 All the Philosophie and instruction they had, was from their Poets, and was all couched in verse.
1796 F. Burney Camilla I. ii. i. 130 She gave her various instructions how to set off her person to most advantage.
1836 Eclectic Rev. Aug. 137 Not that we like the present form in which Sir William has chosen to convey his instruction: an abecedarian arrangement.
1873 L. Ferguson Disc. 41 It is good..to profit by the instructions of the pulpit.
1980 J. C. Oates Bellefleur (1981) ii. 175 Hiram gave instructions every morning..in arithmetic, algebra, classical mythology, and world geography.
2015 A. P. Pauw Prov. & Ecclesiastes 36 Parents exhort children to listen to their instruction and hear their words... The focus is not on the content of their teaching but on the benefits of adhering to it.
b. In plural. Directions about how something should be done or operated; detailed information given as to the use, assembly, etc., of a product.
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the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > advice > [noun] > advising or guidance
counsellingc1330
address1477
guidance?1548
instructions1665
guidage1805
1665 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 1 90 Here he spends a good part of his Book, in giving very particular instructions, concerning the way of winding off the silk, setting also down the form of the Oven and Instruments necessary for that work.
1858 J. Brown North-west Passage viii. 167 It conjectured Sir John Franklin would follow the Instructions laid down for his guidance: the imaginists thought he would not.
1923 Wilson Bull. 35 48 Detailed instructions and blanks for reporting the counts, together with return envelopes requiring no postage, will be furnished upon request.
1954 Househ. Guide & Almanac (News of World) 93/1 When painting over old woodwork, wash it well with a solution of sugar soap. Follow the instructions given on the packet regarding the required strength of the solution for the particular job in hand.
2012 Action on Hearing Loss Apr. 28/2 The contractors who had installed the infrared system had not provided neckloop receivers or instructions on how the system works.
4. The action, practice, or profession of teaching; the imparting of knowledge, skill, or information; the fact of being taught; education, training.religious instruction, primary instruction, secondary instruction, etc.: see the first element.With quot. 1861 cf. note at instruct v. 1a(c).
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society > education > teaching > [noun]
lore971
wissingc1000
wordloreOE
teachingc1175
kenningc1320
lering1377
learningc1380
disciplinea1382
doctrinec1384
ensignment1398
instruction?a1439
schoolc1449
schoolingc1449
document?a1500
instructing1516
entechmenta1522
institution1531
teachment1562
repasting1567
tuition1582
lessoning1583
tutoring1590
loring1596
tutorage1638
indoctrination1646
principling1649
tutorya1713
tutorhood1752
didactic1754
documenting1801
pupillizing1815
tutorizing1837
tutorization1842
tutelagea1856
coachmanship1873
preception1882
society > communication > information > action of informing > [noun]
informinga1382
traditionc1384
informationa1393
kithinga1400
instruction?a1439
impartment1604
informance1604
re-representation1679
didactic1754
briefing1910
imparting1952
trickle-down1962
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ix. l. 89 (MED) In his excus seide that Gabriel Was sent to hym from the heuenli mansioun Be the Hooli Goost to his instruccioun.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Knychthede (1993) vii. 50 His werkis..was all to geve vs gude jnstructioun to gouerne vs jn syklike maner.
1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. xxij There was no processyon nor shewynge nor instruccion of the holy places.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lxxxv Bryng vp my lytle infant..that..by your instruction, he may proue pollitike.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke Pref. There be many who will enter into the reading of my booke for their instruction.
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1204 Epaminonda..hath had better meanes of instruction and education to the attaining of vertue, than any other Bœotian whatsoever.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. iv. 157 We see what care God took for the instruction of his people in a time of so generall an Apostacy.
1702 V. Mandey tr. J. J. Hainlin Synopsis Mathematica: Theoret. Arithm. i. 10 The Solution..is learnt much easier by lively instruction, than by dead and dumb Letters.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxvii. 12 The faith of a soldier is commonly the fruit of instruction, rather than of inquiry.
1831 E. Burton Lect. Eccl. Hist. i. iv. 95 The mere necessity of instruction would give to the teachers a superiority over the taught.
1861 Times 29 Aug. The old antithesis between ‘instruction’ and ‘education’ still continues to perplex scrupulous minds.
1917 ‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 127 Pilots fresh from their instruction in England gain experience on service machines.
1964 M. Critchley Developmental Dyslexia iv. 15 The problem of when a child should first receive formal instruction in reading.
2014 Jrnl. Mod. Hist. 86 55 English and not German was the language of instruction in their schools.
5. In plural. Law. Information or directions regarding a case, as given by a client to a solicitor or a solicitor to a barrister. Also: authorization of a solicitor or barrister to conduct a case on a person's behalf. Cf. instruct v. 4.
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society > law > legal profession > [noun] > instructions or briefs
instructions1529
breviate1594
brief1631
memorial1729
soup1856
watching brief1886
docker1889
dock brief1909
amicus curiae brief1919
1529 Order Conc. Proctors Court of Arches (BL MS Cotton Cleopatra F.1) f. 92 A proctor must take sufficient instructions of his clients and kepe every court daye.
1589 Sir T. Smith's Common-welth (rev. ed.) ii. xiv. 74 The common Atturneyes are such as are allowed in this Court..to prosecute or defend according to the instructions of their Clients, for the plaintife or defendant.
1649 Perfect Weekly Acct. 11–18 Apr. sig. Hh1 The Attorney Generall for the Common wealth (Mr. Prideux) had instructions to prosecute the businesse against them.
1658 W. Style Narrationes Modernæ 462 It is his [sc. a Counceller's] duty to speak for his Clyent, and it shall be intended to be spoken according to his Clyents instructions.
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 103 An Attorney..said, that he had given the Serjeant his Fee, and Instructions over Night, to move for him.
1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. iii. 29 A counsel is not answerable for any matter by him spoken, relative to the cause in hand, and suggested in his client's instructions.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxiii. 352 Attorneys..from that spot can whisper into the ear of the leading counsel in the case, any instructions that may be necessary during the progress of the trial.
1885 Manch. Examiner 10 Jan. 5/3 At present his instructions to counsel are filtered through a solicitor.
1936 Times 25 June 4/2 The three newspapers..had recently by some means obtained copies of instructions to counsel.
1984 W. Deverell Dance Shiva (1986) vi. 68 My apologies, my lord... I have just received instructions. I am here as counsel to the parties named as respondents.
2004 H. Kennedy Just Law (2005) ii. 42 He and his fellow defenders did not know what the men were accused of and could not take instructions from them.
6. Law. A direction or guideline given by a judge to a jury on the legal principles applicable to the case under consideration. Frequently in plural or as a mass noun.
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1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iv. xv. 252 'Tis a good character of a Judge..in his instructions to the Jury, to lay open the Law, not his affections to them.
1779 D. Loch Ess. Trade Scotl. III. 137 The accusation was presented to the..Chief Justice, and..second Justice,..and by them laid before the Grand Jury, with instructions.
1882 Central Law Jrnl. 14 271/1 The presiding judge, after giving to the jury an instruction requested in writing by the defendant upon the general burden of proof [etc.].
1914 Rep. Appellate Div. Supreme Court N.Y. 159 364 The learned court erred capitally in its disposition of this request for instruction of the jury.
2013 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 7 Dec. 16 Akram's appeal hinged on the way judge Lord Brodie gave the jury instructions on how to consider DNA evidence.
7. An order or direction to an elected representative to vote in a particular way (usually in plural). Also: the action or fact of giving such voting directions. Cf. instruct v. 6.See also notes at instruct v. 6a, 6b.
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1733 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 644/2 It appears, not that the People applied to their Representatives, with Petitions and authoritative Instructions, [etc.].
1774 E. Burke Speeches Arrival at Bristol 15 Authoritative instructions; Mandates issued, which the Member is bound blindly and implicitly to obey, to vote, and to argue for, though contrary to the clearest conviction of his judgement and conscience; these are things utterly unknown to the laws of this land.
1778 J. Stevenson Lett. in Answer to Dr. Price's Pamphlets 59 Can you with the least shadow of truth say, that those who govern are guided by their own will; if, at the same time, they are subject to the instruction of their constituents?
1786 G. Washington Let. 30 Sept. in Papers (1995) Confederation Ser. IV. 278 I am no friend to instructions, except in local matters which are wholly or in a great measure confined to the County of the Delegate.
1804 W. Duane Rep. Deb. Senate 90 Instructions from the legislatures of some states to their representatives have been mentioned. This he considered as altogether irregular.
1828 Richmond Whig 16 Feb. 1/2 We have too much respect for the legislature of Kentucky to suppose that they meant to bind the delegation by an instruction.
1841 Congr. Globe 9 June App. 74 Instruction is the right of a majority, petition that of a minority, or of a single individual.
1952 Jrnl. Southern Hist. 18 304 The doctrine of the right of instruction was frequently used in states controlled by the early Republican party.
1978 Western Polit. Q. 31 362 Without these lines of communication it would not be possible for a congressman to act on the instructions from his constituency.
2001 Christian Sci. Monitor 5 Jan. 9/2 The danger of the ‘faithless elector’ voting contrary to instructions.
2016 A. Shorten Contemp. Polit. Theory iv. 76 A representative can ‘act for’ a person or a group either by following their instructions or by exercising independent judgement.
8. Computing. An expression in a program or routine that instructs a processor to perform a particular operation (esp. a basic operation).Quot. 1945 may be regarded as showing sense 1 being applied to early computing.
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society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [noun] > instruction
command1946
function1946
fast forward1947
instruction1947
threshold function1947
statement1957
mips1973
1945 J. Von Neumann in B. Randell Origins Digital Computers: Sel. Papers (1973) 355 These instructions must be given in some form which the device can sense. Punched into a system of punchcards or on teletype tape, magnetically impressed on steel tape or wire, [etc.].]
1947 H. H. Goldstine & J. Von Neumann in J. Von Neumann Coll. Wks. (1963) V. 82 The control scans the coded instruction in the selectron memory as a rule linearly.
1959 E. M. McCormick Digital Computer Primer x. 139 The number of instructions which can be executed by a computer represents a compromise between the designer's and user's requirements. The fewer the instructions, the easier it is to design and build the machine, but the more difficult (at least time-consuming) it is to code for it.
1970 O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing vi. 98 When local control units have their own instructions, these instructions can be called commands to distinguish them from the instructions to the central control unit.
2014 L. Floridi 4th Revolution i. 7 In 2010, an iPad2 had enough computing power to process 1,600 millions of instructions per second (MIPS).
9. Frequently in plural. Genetic information encoded in DNA or RNA, directing the transcription of genes, translation into proteins, or development processes in an organism.
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1956 Sci. Amer. May 48/3 How this controlling substance [sc. DNA] carries its specific instructions is still a mystery.
1965 Amer. Scientist 53 477 The instructions depend solely on the order in which the four bases adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine (A, G, C, and T) are arranged sequentially in DNA.
1978 J. Langone Human Engin. 41 The messenger [RNA] now moves out of the nucleus into the cell's cytoplasm, carrying the instructions to one of the..ribosomes, that lie scattered about.
1997 C. Baker Your Genes, your Choices ii. 20 A gene in one person may carry a slightly different instruction than the corresponding gene in another person.
2008 Times Lit. Suppl. 29 Feb. 30/3 Genes provide instructions for generating form and pattern de novo, but they do not directly describe the pattern itself.
Compounds
C1.
a. General attributive (esp. in sense 4), as instruction method, instruction school, etc.
ΚΠ
1844 Daily Atlas (Boston) 9 July 2/4 The instruction rooms appear to be admirably suited to their purpose.
1875 (title) Piquet duties: compiled and arranged with four practices for instruction drill.
1916 Industr. Educ. Mag. Mar. 534 The producing purpose of the factory shop must give way to the instruction purpose.
1955 Public Health Rep. (U.S. Public Health Service) 70 140/2 All three groups learned about the same amount, regardless of the instruction method.
2002 Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 18 Aug. 24/2 There are about 200 Australian kiteboarders and 10 accredited instruction schools on the east coast.
b.
(a) attributive, with the sense ‘containing detailed information or instructions on how something should be done, operated, or assembled’, as instruction booklet, instruction leaflet, instruction video, etc.Some of the more established compounds of this type are treated separately at Compounds 1b(b). See also instruction book n. at Compounds 2.
ΚΠ
1858 New Albany (Indiana) Daily Ledger 16 Feb. Kneeling for prayers by word of command is an arrangement which has been entirely overlooked in Scott's military instruction manual.
1895 R. Kipling Out of India iii. ii. 287 All the pretty little instruction primers say that an engine takes to pieces like a watch.
1910 Toledo Med. & Surg. Rep. Feb. 88 There are 34 Charts and 24 Instruction Pamphlets so simple a boy of ten years old can understand.
1959 Manch. Guardian 13 Aug. 5/4 The..do-it-yourself kit, complete with all necessary screws, bolts, nuts and instruction chart.
1967 M. Drabble Jerusalem the Golden vii. 155 Spread before her on the floor was a..dutch cap, an instruction leaflet, and various other accoutrements of contraception.
1995 New Scientist 25 Nov. 11/2 Would-be froggers are given an instruction booklet with the frog song CD.
2016 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 26 Jan. a11 One of the sisters bought the chemicals after learning how to make bombs from instruction videos on the Internet.
(b)
instruction manual n.
ΚΠ
1858Instruction manual [see Compounds 1b(a)].
1860 Hampshire Advertiser 19 May Suppl. 4/3 The corps would be expected to appear at parade in uniform next Thursday, and then include the instruction manual and a copy of the rules of the corps.
1939 Peabody Jrnl. Educ. 16 300/2 Excellent instruction manual for skating, whether for class or self teaching.
2013 Guardian 4 May (Guide Suppl.) 25/1 These DJ younglings can find their way around a Novation Launchpad before most people have even opened the instruction manual.
instruction sheet n.
ΚΠ
1859 Tonic-solfa Reporter Jan. 1/2 250 ‘Instruction Sheets of Standard Course’, in cloth, full price one shilling, at five-pence each.
1938 Harper's Mag. Dec. 72 I was shown a Japanese imitation of the construction sets faithful even to the trademark drawing and two typographical errors in the instruction sheet.
2002 T. Pinkston Nothing to Regret xv. 102 I saw an instruction sheet for the proper assembly of one of the airplane parts.
C2.
instruction book n. (originally) a book of religious teachings or doctrine; (later chiefly) a book containing instructions on how something should be done, operated, or assembled; an instruction manual.
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society > communication > book > kind of book > textbook or book of instructions > [noun]
handbookOE
doctrinalc1450
directory1543
school1545
instruction book1546
companion1621
body1647
tutor1665
self-instructor1700
tutorer1702
preceptorc1710
textbook1779
self-instructer1800
bench book1887
user guide1936
user manual1936
text1955
1546 G. Joye Refut. Byshop Winchesters Derke Declar. f. cxxv When grace is offred you, either to receiue it or to refuse it, as ye wryt in your enstruccion boke.
1799 G. Astor Catal. Music 6/2 (caption) Instruction books.
1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 457/3 (advt.) Flageolet or Flute (with Instruction Book).
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 123/2 Tissue Paper Flower Outfits... Containing..12 half sheets assorted tissues,..and instruction book.
1982 W. A. Davenport 15th-cent. Eng. Drama i. 9 The understanding of behaviour is based on Christian teaching in sermons, instruction books, allegorical tracts, religious lyrics, and so on.
2010 Financial Times 5 June (Weekend Mag.) 10/1 My new radio-controlled programmable central heating thermostat has a 72-page instruction book.
instruction code n. Computing an instruction (sense 8) expressed in machine language, typically consisting of a code specifying an operation as well as one or more operands.
ΚΠ
1947 J. W. Mauchly in Theory & Techniques Design Electronic Digital Computers (Univ. Pennsylvania) I. iii. 3-17 A poor instruction code may easily complicate the task of laying out the proper instructions.
1982 IBM Jrnl. Res. & Devel. 26 410/1 The instruction code selects a starting address in a private program store, and the microprocessor fetches its next ‘instruction’ from this address.
2005 A. S. Berger Hardware & Computer Organization vii. 168 The next instruction begins at memory location 0x00000416 and contains the instruction code 0x327B704A.
instruction set n. Computing the set of all machine language instructions that a given processor can execute.
ΚΠ
1957 IBM Jrnl. Res. & Devel. 1 159/2 If we assume an instruction set, such as that of the IBM 705 computer, plus the additional instruction to perform the diminish operation, we can contrast the programs performing these functions in the two ways.
1989 PC Mag. 31 Oct. 83/1 RISC is a reaction to earlier trends toward increasingly elaborate computer architectures with increasingly complex instruction sets.
2011 S. Lavington Moving Targets xiii. 457 Other large computer manufacturers came under pressure to devise their own systems that were either distinct from, or compatible with, the instruction set of the new IBM range.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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