reentrant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “reentrant” mean?
Something that points or flows back inward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something that points or flows back inward.
In computing: a function or subroutine that can be safely interrupted and called again (re-entered) before its previous invocation is complete. In geography and geometry: an inward-pointing angle or landform.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK often uses 're-entrant' with a hyphen; US often uses 'reentrant' as a solid word. Both are accepted in both regions.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Equally rare in general discourse. Slightly more frequent in US computing contexts due to the tech industry's prominence.
Grammar
How to Use “reentrant” in a Sentence
[adjective] + noun (a reentrant bay)[verb] + as + adjective (designed to be reentrant)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reentrant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb in modern English)
American English
- (Not used as a verb in modern English)
adverb
British English
- (Not standard usage as an adverb)
American English
- (Not standard usage as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The mapping software identified a re-entrant valley on the Ordnance Survey chart.
- For safety, the shared library code must be fully re-entrant.
American English
- The reentrant angle of the fortress wall was a defensive weakness.
- The kernel developer wrote a reentrant function for the signal handler.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in computer science, electrical engineering, and geography papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would likely cause confusion.
Technical
Primary context. In software engineering: 'The interrupt handler must be reentrant.' In geography: 'The coastline has a deep reentrant.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reentrant”
- Confusing it with 'recurrent' (happening repeatedly).
- Using it in non-technical contexts where 'indented' or 'inward-curving' would be clearer.
- Misspelling as 're-entrent' or 'reentrent'.
- Assuming it's only a computing term and missing its geographical application.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but they are related. Reentrancy is a specific property of code that allows it to be interrupted and re-entered safely. Thread-safety is a broader concept about safe concurrent execution. All reentrant functions are thread-safe, but not all thread-safe functions are reentrant.
No, it is not used to describe people or their behaviour. It is a technical adjective for objects, code, or geographical features.
A 'salient' angle—one that points outward, like the corner of a square.
The word is formed from the prefix 're-' meaning 'again' and 'entrant'. Over time, such prefixed words often lose their hyphen. Both 're-entrant' and 'reentrant' are considered correct, with the solid form becoming more common in technical writing.
Something that points or flows back inward.
Reentrant is usually formal, technical in register.
Reentrant: in British English it is pronounced /riːˈɛntr(ə)nt/, and in American English it is pronounced /riˈɛntrənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think RE-ENTER-ANT: an ant that goes back INTO the hill, pointing inward.
Conceptual Metaphor
SAFETY IN RE-ENTRY (computing): A function is a room that can be safely re-entered by multiple people even if others are still inside.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'reentrant' LEAST likely to be used?