Athene Airheart's definitions
Pilot's jargon for a practice landing. You land the plane long enough to roll the wheels on the runway, then apply full power and take off again. Used to practice many landings in a short time.
by Athene Airheart March 19, 2004
Get the touch-and-gomug. 1. A reference mark that something is measured against. The original benchmarks are places on the workbench used to measure common lengths of material, such as lumber.
2. In surveying, a "bench mark" (two words) is a post or other permanent mark established at a known elevation that is used as the basis for measuring the elevation of other topographical points.
In computer and Internet technology, the term may have any of these meanings:
1) A set of conditions against which a product or system is measured. PC magazine laboratories frequently test and compare several new computers or computer devices against the same set of application programs, user interactions, and contextual situations. The total context against which all products are measured and compared is referred to as the benchmark.
2) A program that is specially designed to provide measurements for a particular operating system or application.
3) A known product with which users are familiar or accustomed to that other newer products can be compared to.
4) A set of performance criteria which a product is expected to meet.
2. In surveying, a "bench mark" (two words) is a post or other permanent mark established at a known elevation that is used as the basis for measuring the elevation of other topographical points.
In computer and Internet technology, the term may have any of these meanings:
1) A set of conditions against which a product or system is measured. PC magazine laboratories frequently test and compare several new computers or computer devices against the same set of application programs, user interactions, and contextual situations. The total context against which all products are measured and compared is referred to as the benchmark.
2) A program that is specially designed to provide measurements for a particular operating system or application.
3) A known product with which users are familiar or accustomed to that other newer products can be compared to.
4) A set of performance criteria which a product is expected to meet.
Laboratory benchmarks sometimes fail to reflect real-world product use. For this reason, Eric Raymond defines a benchmark as "an inaccurate measure of computer performance" and cites the "old hacker's saying" that "In the computer industry, there are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and benchmarks."
Still, benchmarks can be useful and some companies offer benchmark programs for downloading or a benchmark testing service on their own site.
Still, benchmarks can be useful and some companies offer benchmark programs for downloading or a benchmark testing service on their own site.
by Athene Airheart March 18, 2004
Get the benchmarksmug. As seen in illustrations or cartoons: Wavy, vertical lines rising above a person, place or thing. Denotes a foul odor.
by Athene Airheart March 14, 2004
Get the Stink linesmug.