virtualization

noun

vir·​tu·​al·​i·​za·​tion ˌvər-chə-wə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌvər-chə-lə-,

ˌvərch-wə-lə-

computing

: the process of creating a virtual version of something (such as an operating system or server) that mimics physical hardware functionality

Virtualization … allows a computer to share its hardware resources with multiple digitally separated environments.

—Amazon Web Services

virtualize

ˈvər-chə-wə-ˌlīz

ˈvər-chə-ˌlīz

ˈvərch-wə-ˌlīz

transitive verb

virtualized; virtualizing; virtualizes

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above