Word.ws English Dictionary

torn write

torn write noun: a write operation, such as to a hard disk drive or database, which only partially completes, being cut off midway through.

Noun

torn write (plural torn writes)

  1. A write operation, such as to a hard disk drive or database, which only partially completes, being cut off midway through.
    • Our server lost power in the middle of a non-atomic transaction, so we ended up with a torn write.
    • A torn write can leave a system in an inconsistent state.

Forms of torn write

pluraltorn writes

Origin of torn write

So called because the full write process is "cut off" before fully completing, thus being "torn".

Questions about torn write

What does torn write mean?
Torn write means a write operation, such as to a hard disk drive or database, which only partially completes, being cut off midway through.
What part of speech is torn write?
Torn write is a noun.
What is the plural of torn write?
The plural of torn write is torn writes.

Words near torn write in the dictionary

  1. torn strips off someone
  2. torn to pieces
  3. torn up
  4. torn up the dance floor
  5. torn up the pea patch
  6. torn write
  7. Tornabene
  8. Tornabenes
  9. tornachile
  10. tornachiles
  11. tornade

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: torn write (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “torn write.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/torn_write. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.