leap second (Meaning)

Wordnet

leap second (n)

a second (as measured by an atomic clock) added to or subtracted from Greenwich Mean Time in order to compensate for slowing in the Earth's rotation

Synonyms & Antonyms of leap second

No Synonyms and anytonyms found

leap second Sentence Examples

  1. The introduction of a leap second in the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) system can cause potential issues in various technology systems due to timekeeping inaccuracies.
  2. Astronomers and timekeepers utilize leap seconds to adjust for the Earth's varying rotation speed, ensuring that our clocks align with the Earth's astronomical time.
  3. The decision to implement a leap second is made by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), which monitors the Earth's rotation and maintains global timekeeping standards.
  4. While leap seconds assist in maintaining the precision of timekeeping, they can disrupt computer systems and networks relying on accurate time synchronization, leading to potential malfunctions or service outages.
  5. Ensuring the smooth transition during a leap second requires diligent preparation and testing by system administrators and software developers to minimize the impact on critical applications and services.
  6. Advance notification of upcoming leap seconds allows technology industries and organizations to implement necessary adjustments and prepare their systems to handle the time change seamlessly.
  7. Integrating leap second handling capabilities into operating systems, software applications, and network protocols ensures that computers and devices can adjust to the time change automatically, reducing the risk of disruptions.
  8. Some countries and regions may choose not to adopt leap seconds due to the potential implications on their critical infrastructure, leading to a divergence in timekeeping standards across different parts of the world.
  9. The impact of leap seconds on financial markets and electronic trading systems requires careful consideration, as even a minor time adjustment can affect high-frequency trading and settlement processes.
  10. Ongoing discussions and research explore alternative solutions to maintain timekeeping accuracy without introducing leap seconds, such as the use of variable-length seconds or alternative timekeeping systems.

FAQs About the word leap second

a second (as measured by an atomic clock) added to or subtracted from Greenwich Mean Time in order to compensate for slowing in the Earth's rotation

No synonyms found.

No antonyms found.

The introduction of a leap second in the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) system can cause potential issues in various technology systems due to timekeeping inaccuracies.

Astronomers and timekeepers utilize leap seconds to adjust for the Earth's varying rotation speed, ensuring that our clocks align with the Earth's astronomical time.

The decision to implement a leap second is made by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), which monitors the Earth's rotation and maintains global timekeeping standards.

While leap seconds assist in maintaining the precision of timekeeping, they can disrupt computer systems and networks relying on accurate time synchronization, leading to potential malfunctions or service outages.