ChiteCture, programming> Using wordsContaining sixteen bits. This adjeCtive often refers to the number of bits used internally by a Computer' s CPU. E.g. "The Intel 8086 is a sixteen bit proCessor". Its external data bus or address bus may be narrower. The term may also refer to the size of an instruCtion in the Computer' s instruCtion set or to any other item of data. See also 16-bit appliCation. (1996-05-13)
