16 bit
     
         using words containing sixteen
        bits.  this adjective often refers to the number of bits
        used internally by a computer's cpu.  e.g. "the intel 8086
        is a sixteen bit processor".  its external data bus or
        address bus may be narrower.  the term may also refer to the
        size of an instruction in the computer's instruction set or
        to any other item of data.
     
        see also 16-bit application.
     
        1996-05-13
     
     
see also:
words bits cpu intel 8086 data bus address bus 
instruction set 16-bit application