memory leak

n. An error in a program's dynamic-store allocation logic that causes it to
fail to reclaim discarded memory, leading to eventual collapse due to memory
exhaustion. Also (esp. at CMU) called core leak. These problems were severe
on older machines with small, fixed-size address spaces, and special leak
detection tools were commonly written to root them out. With the advent of
virtual memory, it is unfortunately easier to be sloppy about wasting a bit
of memory (although when you run out of memory on a VM machine, it means
you've got a real leak!). See aliasing bug , fandango on core , smash the
stack , precedence lossage , overrun screw , leaky heap , leak.

