To check the status of an input line, sensor, or memory location to see if a particular external event has been registered. Contrast interrupt. [Jargon File] (1995-01-31)

In addition suitable contents:
[ = ] [ al ] [ am ] [ an ] [ ar ] [ arc ] [ arg ] [ as ] [ at ] [ b ] [ be ] [ C ] [ ca ] [ cat ] [ ch ] [ ck ] [ cu ] [ du ] [ ec ] [ ed ] [ ee ] [ eg ] [ er ] [ event ] [ fi ] [ file ] [ gi ] [ h ] [ hr ] [ id ] [ il ] [ in ] [ input ] [ int ] [ interrupt ] [ io ] [ is ] [ J ] [ Jargon File ] [ la ] [ Lex ] [ li ] [ line ] [ location ] [ memory ] [ memory location ] [ mo ] [ mod ] [ module ] [ na ] [ ne ] [ np ] [ ns ] [ pa ] [ ph ] [ pt ] [ query ] [ rc ] [ re ] [ register ] [ ru ] [ se ] [ sensor ] [ so ] [ st ] [ T ] [ th ] [ to ] [ tr ] [ up ] [ us ] [ ve ]