1. A microprocessor clock cycle in which nothing at all occurs. A wait state is programmed into a computer system to allow other components, such as random-access memory (RAM), to catch up with the central processing unit (CPU). The number of wait states depends on the speed of the processor in relation to the speed of memory. Wait states can be eliminated-resulting in a zero wait states machine by using fast (but expensive) cache memory, interfaced memory, page-mode , or static chips. From QUECID