hypertext

noun hy·per·text \ ˈhī-pər-ˌtekst \

Definition of hypertext

: a database format in which information related to that on a display can be accessed directly from the display; also : material (such as text) in this format

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hypertextual

play \ˌhī-pər-ˈteks-chə-wəl, -chəl\ adjective

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Did You Know?

Since hyper- generally means "above, beyond", hypertext is something that's gone beyond the limitations of ordinary text. Thus, unlike the text in a book, hypertext permits you, by clicking with a mouse, to immediately access text in one of millions of different electronic sources. Hypertext is now so familiar that most computer users may not even know the word, which was coined by Ted Nelson back in the early 1960s. It took a few more years for hypertext to actually be created, by Douglas Engelbart, and then quite a few more years before the introduction of the World Wide Web in 1991.

First Known Use of hypertext

1965

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

HYPERTEXT Defined for English Language Learners

hypertext

noun

Definition of hypertext for English Language Learners

computers : an arrangement of the information in a computer database that allows a user to get information and to go from one document to another by clicking on highlighted words or pictures