MacroA series of commands that are configured to be executed together with one button press.
Macro VirusA virus that attaches itself to documents and uses the macro programming capabilities of the documents application to execute and propagate.
macrobendA relatively large-radius bend in an optical fiber, such as might be found in a splice organizer tray or a fiber-optic cable that has been bent.
macrobend lossIn an optical fiber, that loss attributable to macrobending. Synonym curvature loss.
MAD(1) Mission Area Deficiency. (2) Mutually Assured Destruction.
MADCAPMosaic Array Data Compression and Analysis Program.
magic numberA constant value with a significance within a particular context. For instance, the value 12 could mean many different things - the number of hours you…
Magic PacketA broadcast frame used with wake-on-LAN (WOL) technology. The data that is contained in a Magic Packet is the defined constant as represented in…
magical incrementAn "increment" operator that knows how to bump up alphabetics as well as numbers.
magical variablesSpecial variables that have side effects when you access them or assign to them.
magnetic cardA card with a magnetizable surface on which data can be stored and retrieved.
magnetic circuitThe complete closed path taken by magnetic flux. 2. A region of ferromagnetic material, such as the core of a transformer or solenoid, that contains…
magnetic core storageIn computer technology, a storage device that uses ferromagnetic materials such as iron, iron oxide, or ferrite and in such shapes as wires, toroids, and…
magnetic drumA right circular cylinder with a magnetizable surface on which digital data can be stored and retrieved.
magnetic mediaAny storage medium in which different patterns of magnetization are used to represent stored bits or bytes of information See also optical disk and…
Magnetic particlesThe magnetic particles incorporated in the binder to form the magnetic layer on a magnetic tape.
Magnetic remanenceThe strength of the magnetic field that remains in a tape or magnetic particle after it is (1) exposed to a strong, external magnetic field and (2) the…
magnetic stormA perturbation of the Earth's magnetic field, caused by solar disturbances, usually lasting for a brief period (several days) and characterized by large…
magnetic tapeA magnetically coated strip of plastic on which analog or digital data can be encoded See also storage media.
magneto-ionic double refractionThe combined effect of the Earth's magnetic field and atmospheric ionization, whereby a linearly polarized wave entering the ionosphere is split into two…
magneto-optic effectAny one of a number of phenomena in which an electromagnetic wave interacts with a magnetic field, or with matter under the influence of a magnetic field.
mail contactA mail-enabled Active Directory contact that contains information about people or organizations that exist outside an Exchange Server organization.
mail exchange record (MX record)An entry in a domain name system database that directs the routing of mail by mail transfer agents. [After Bahorsky]
mail exploderPart of an e-mail delivery system that allows a message to be automatically and efficiently delivered to a list of addresses, thus implementing mailing…
mail gatewayA computer that connects two or more electronic mail systems (especially dissimilar mail systems on two different networks) and transfers messages between…
Mail ListA mailing list is a list of people who subscribe to a periodic mailing distribution on a particular topic.
mail managementapplication of records management principles and techniques to the flow of mail within the organization
mail pathA series of machine names used to direct electronic mail from one user to another. [Bahorsky]
mail reflectorSynonyms e-mail exploder, mail exploder. 2. A program that forwards e-mail to individuals at a (usually) unchanging e-mail address, even when the…
mail userA mail-enabled Active Directory user that represents a user outside the Exchange organization. Each mail user has an external e-mail address.
mail user agentThe software used to access and manage a user's electronic mail. [After Bahorsky]
mail-enabledAn Active Directory object that has at least one e-mail address defined. If the user is mail-enabled, the user has an associated e-mail address, but does…
MailboxAn area on a storage device where email is placed. In email systems, each user has a private mailbox.
mailbox databaseA database for storing mailboxes in Exchange Server. The mailbox database manages the data in mailboxes, tracks deleted messages and mailbox sizes, and…
mailbox delivery queueA group of temporary queues that hold messages that are being delivered to a Mailbox server by using encrypted Exchange RPC.
mailbox diskOne of a set of disks owned by each filer that is used to store the cluster state information of the filer.
mailbox providerAn organization that provides email mailbox hosting services. Mailbox providers are sometimes referred to as Internet Service Providers, even if they only…
Mailbox server roleAn Exchange Server 2007 server role that provides e-mail storage and advanced scheduling services for Microsoft Office Outlook users.
mailbox storeA database for storing mailboxes in Exchange. Mailbox stores store data that is private to an individual and contain mailbox folders generated when a new…
mailbox userA mail-enabled Active Directory user object that has mailbox attributes. [Exchange 2007]
mailbox-enabledAn Active Directory object that has an Exchange mailbox associated with it; therefore it can both send and receive messages within the Exchange system.
mailbox-type facilityA facility in which a message from an originating user is stored until the destination user requests delivery of that message.
Mailer DaemonA Unix program used in the management of e-mail messages. Not generally encountered by a user unless the user gets a bounced message.
Mailing ListA collection of e-mail addresses of people who have asked to receive regular mail discussions on a particular topic, and for which they can sometimes…
Mailing List ManagerAn automated program to handle the administrative functions of adding/removing subscribers, disseminating the message postings, sending topic related and…
mailserverA computer that provides e-mail management and storage space for messages pertaining to a group of subscribers. [Bahorsky]
MailtoA HTML tag that allows visitors to a site click on a link that creates a new message in their default email client.
Main BeamThe primary directional EMR emitted from radar transmitters.
main distribution frame (MDF)A distribution frame on one part of which the external trunk cables entering a facility terminate, and on another part of which the internal user…
main frameSynonym (in telephony) main distribution frame.
main headingIn indexing, the heading under which a related group of subheadings or other subdivisions belong See also primary subject.
main lobeOf an antenna radiation pattern, the lobe containing the maximum power (exhibiting the greatest field strength). Note: The horizontal radiation pattern, i.
main methodThe starting point for program execution public static void main(String[] args)
main route tableThe default route table that any new VPC subnet uses for routing. You can associate a subnet with a different route table of your choice.
main stationA user instrument, e.g., telephone set or terminal, with a distinct call number designation, connected to a local loop, used for originating calls, and on…
main storageIn a computer, program-addressable storage from which instructions and other data may be loaded directly into registers for subsequent execution or…
mainframeA class of powerful, general purpose computers that can manage large amounts of data at high speed.
maintainabilityA characteristic of design and installation, expressed as the probability that an item will be retained in or restored to a specified condition within a…
MaintainerAn individual responsible for retaining the major defense system in or restoring it to a specified condition.
maintenanceThe patent fees due at 4, 8 and 12 years needed to keep a U. S. utility or plant patent in force for its full life.
Maintenance Concept/PlanA description of maintenance considerations and constraints for system/equipment under development.
maintenance hookA trapdoor in software that allows easy maintenance and development of additional features and that may allow entry into the program at unusual points or…
maintenance keyKey intended only for in-shop use. [INFOSEC-99]
maintenance modeOne of the options available when you boot a NetApp appliance from a system boot disk.
Maintenance OperationsThe corrective and preventive maintenance operations that do not require a deployment decision; it includes correction and subsequent validation testing…
Maintenance PlanningThe process conducted to evolve and establish maintenance concepts and requirements for the lifetime of a material system; one of the principal elements…
MAISMobile Automated Instrumentation Suite (USA term).
MAISRCMajor Automated Information System Review Council
Major ApplicationAn application that requires special attention to security due to the risk and magnitude of harm resulting from the loss, misuse, or unauthorized access…
Major Defense Acquisition ProgramAn acquisition program that is not a highly sensitive classified program (as determined by the Secretary of Defense) and that is: 1.
Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP)An acquisition program that is not a highly sensitive classified program (as determined by the Secretary of Defense) and that is: 1.
Major Information SystemAn information system that requires special management attention because of its importance to an agency mission; its high development, operating, or…
Major ModificationA modification that in and of itself meets the criteria of acquisition category I or II or is designated as such by the milestone decision authority.
Major SystemA combination of elements that will function together to produce the capabilities required to fulfill a mission need, including hardware, equipment…
make interval1. In dial-pulse signaling, that portion of the dial pulse in which the network applies a low resistance between the tip and ring conductors at the…
MakefileA file that controls the compilation of a program. Perl programs don't usually need a "Makefile" because the Perl compiler has plenty of self-control.
Malda, RobFounder of Slashdot.org, a popular editorially driven technology news forum.
malicious appletsSmall application programs automatically downloaded and executed that perform an unauthorized function on an information system (IS). [INFOSEC-99]
Malicious CodeSoftware or firmware intended to perform an unauthorized process that will have adverse impact on the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an…
Malicious code (also malware)Any code that can be used to attack a computer by spreading viruses, crashing networks, gathering intelligence, corrupting data, distributing…
malicious logicA program implemented in hardware, firmware, or software, and whose purpose is to perform some unauthorized or harmful action.
MalwareA program that is inserted into a system, usually covertly, with the intent of compromising the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the victims…