# cron

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #53,472

## Definitions
1. A scheduler or timer that automatically starts a job, program, task.

## Etymology
From chrono-, from Ancient Greek χρόνος (khrónos, “time”). Originating as the name of a specific program, but since generalized to analogous ones.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cron