object linking and embedding

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Object Linking and Embedding
OLE

   <operating system> (OLE) A distributed object system and
   {protocol} from {Microsoft}, also used on the Acorn
   {Archimedes}.  OLE allows an editor to "farm out" part of a
   document to another editor and then reimport it.  For example,
   a {desk-top publishing} system might send some text to a {word
   processor} or a picture to a {bitmap} editor using OLE.

   (1998-12-17)