timeout

/ˈtaɪmaʊt/
nounIntermediate
What It Really Means
A pause or break from an activity to rest or strategize.
Literal Meaning
The act of being outside of time or a period of time.
Literal Breakdown
timea measurable period+outnot inside or active
Mental Image
A mental picture of stepping away from an activity to pause and reflect.
When to Use
A coach calls a timeout during a basketball game to discuss the team's strategy with the players.
Cultural Note
The concept of a timeout is widely used in sports and has been adapted to other fields like technology and psychology.
Sports

A temporary suspension of play in a game or match, often used to strategize or rest.

The coach called a timeout to discuss the team's strategy.

The coach called a timeout to discuss the team's strategy.

💡

In sports, a timeout is a brief pause in the game, typically lasting 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on the sport.

psychology

A period of rest or break from work or activity, often to reduce stress or regain focus.

Taking a timeout from work can help reduce burnout.

Taking a timeout from work can help reduce burnout.

💡

In psychology, a timeout can be a self-imposed break to manage stress or emotions.

💻Technology
technical

In computing, a timeout is a condition where a process or system stops responding after a specified period of inactivity.

The server experienced a timeout due to network congestion.

The server experienced a timeout due to network congestion.

💡

In technology, a timeout is a mechanism to prevent indefinite waiting for a response.

Collocations

call a timeoutto request a temporary pause in a game or activitytimeout periodthe duration of a timeouttimeout mechanisma system or process that enforces a timeout

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

take a timeoutphrase
to pause an activity to rest or strategize
timeout errorphrase
a technical error caused by a system not responding in time

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'timeout' depends heavily on the context. Always consider whether it's being used in sports, technology, or psychology.

Gold Rule

Sports Timeout

In sports, a timeout is a regulated pause called by a coach or player to discuss strategy or rest.

📖Word Origin

The term 'timeout' is a compound of 'time' and 'out,' originating in the early 20th century in sports contexts. It later expanded to other fields like technology and psychology.

📝Usage Notes

The meaning of 'timeout' varies by context. In sports, it refers to a regulated pause; in technology, it refers to a system response limit; and in psychology, it refers to a self-imposed break.

Word Breakdown

time
a period or duration
root
+
out
a state of being outside or separate
root
English Dictionary