(1) (Metal Oxide Varistor) A discrete electronic component that is commonly used to divert excessive current to the ground and/or neutral lines. Acting like a pressure relief value, an MOV is comprised of zinc oxide with small quantities of bismuth, cobalt, manganese and other metal oxides. The MOV was introduced in Japan in the late 1960s and was also developed by GE in the 1970s. See surge suppression.

(2) An assembly language instruction that moves (copies) data from one location to another. See move.