memory leak

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}.