no-op

(computer science) An instruction telling the computer to do nothing, except to proceed to the next instruction in sequence. Also known as do-nothing instruction; no-operation instruction.

Outbound telemarketing call initiated by an automatic dialing device that is not picked up by an operator immediately after the call is answered by a live party. Some no-ops are expected when using a predictive dialing system but should be kept at a volume below 5% of the calls answered. A no-op becomes an abandoned call if the called party hangs up before an operator gets on the line. See also abandon rate; automatic dialer.

alt.: NOP /nop/ [no operation]

1. A machine instruction that does nothing (sometimes used in assembler-level programming as filler for data or patch areas, or to overwrite code to be removed in binaries).

2. A person who contributes nothing to a project, or has nothing going on upstairs, or both. As in “He's a no-op.”

3. Any operation or sequence of operations with no effect, such as circling the block without finding a parking space, or putting money into a vending machine and having it fall immediately into the coin-return box, or asking someone for help and being told to go away. “Oh, well, that was a no-op.” Hot-and-sour soup (see great-wall) that is insufficiently either is no-op soup; so is wonton soup if everybody else is having hot-and-sour.