(1) A term used in computer
programming to describe when a program fails. The program then dumps a core, which, in the ancient days of
programming, poor code monkeys had to go through to see what was wrong.
(2) A term used by anyone familiar with
definition (1) to mean a loss of memory.
(1)
> a.out
>
Segmentation Fault (Core Dumped)
(2)
It's the middle of the big exam, and
everything rides
on the knowledge the test-taker has known for a long time. They're prepared to take the test when suddenly:
"*(*#%#(*&%!!!! MY BRAIN JUST CORE DUMPED!"
And that's a core dump. There goes any chance of a good grade.