timeout

A short pause in a sports game, often requested so a coach can talk to the players.

• The coach called a timeout.
• We discussed our next play during the timeout.
• Each team has two timeouts left.

Similar words: time-out

Common phrases: call a timeout, take a timeout, team timeout

The stopping of a computer task because it has taken longer than the allowed time.

• A timeout stopped the download.
• The slow connection caused several timeouts.
• If you get a timeout, try sending the request again.

Common phrases: connection timeout, request timeout, timeout error

A short break from something stressful, giving you time to rest or calm down.

• I need a timeout.
• She took a timeout from the stressful discussion.
• A brief timeout helped us calm down before continuing.

How to use it: timeout from something (I need a timeout from all this arguing.)

Similar words: break, breather

Common phrases: take a timeout, need a timeout, timeout from something

The longest time a computer process is allowed to take before it is stopped.

• Set the timeout to ten seconds.
• A longer timeout gives the server more time to respond.
• The default timeout is too short for this task.

Similar words: time limit

Common phrases: set a timeout, connection timeout, timeout value