Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Programmable Interrupt Controller
     
         {PIC} A special-purpose {integrated
        circuit} that functions as an overall manager in an
        {interrupt} driven system.  It accepts requests from the
        {peripheral} equipment, determines which of the incoming
        requests is of the highest priority, ascertains whether the
        incoming request has a higher priority value than the level
        currently being serviced, and issues an interrupt to the {CPU}
        based on this determination.
     
        PICs typically have eight interrupt lines, and two PICs are
        often cascaded to provide 15 available interrupt lines.
     
        See also: {Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller}.
     
        (2003-03-18)