busy-wait
To wait for an {event} by {spinning} through a
{tight loop} or timed-delay loop that {polls} for the event on
each pass, as opposed to setting up an {interrupt handler} and
continuing execution on another part of the task. This is a
wasteful technique, best avoided on {time-sharing} systems
where a busy-waiting program may {hog} the processor.
[{Jargon File}]
(1999-06-10)