A short break in the action of a sport, for substitution, consultation, etc.
We're being beaten! We need a time-out!
A break from a tense, heated or stressful situation (often enforced, sometimes as a disciplinary measure); a cooling-off period.
Hitting people is not acceptable! Go to your room and take a time-out!
(communication) The intentional ending of an incomplete task after a time limit considered long enough for it to end normally.
(communication) The allowed maximal time for a process to end normally.
(communication) The intentional termination of an incomplete task after a time limit considered long enough for it to end normally.
My connection was so slow that I kept receiving timeouts when trying to view Web pages.