program

[ proh-gram, -gruhm ]
See synonyms for program on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a plan of action to accomplish a specified end: a school lunch program.

  2. a plan or schedule of activities, procedures, etc., to be followed.

  1. a broadcasted television or radio production or similar internet-based content produced for distribution.

  2. Also called com·put·er pro·gram .Digital Technology. a precise sequence of instructions enabling a computer to perform a task; a piece of software.

  3. a collection of principles, actions, objectives, etc., established with a long-term goal in mind; platform; policy: A review of our education initiatives and programs suggests we are meeting our goals.

  4. a list of items, pieces, performers, etc., in a musical, theatrical, or other entertainment.

  5. an entertainment with reference to its pieces or numbers: a program of American and French music.

  6. a planned, coordinated group of activities, procedures, etc., often for a specific purpose, or a facility offering such a series of activities: a drug rehabilitation program;a graduate program in linguistics.

  7. a prospectus or syllabus: a program of courses being offered.

verb (used with object),pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.
  1. to schedule as part of a program.

  2. Digital Technology. to write code for (a computer program or application).

  1. to insert or encode specific operating instructions into (a machine or apparatus): We'll program the bells to ring at ten-minute intervals.

  2. to insert (instructions) into a machine or apparatus: An automatic release has been programmed into the lock as a safety feature.

  3. to cause to absorb or incorporate automatic responses, attitudes, or the like; condition: Our parents programmed us to respect our elders.

  4. to set, regulate, or modify so as to produce a specific response or reaction: Program your eating habits to eliminate sweets.

verb (used without object),pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.
  1. to plan or write a program.

  2. Digital Technology. to write computer code.

Origin of program

1
First recorded in1625–35; from Late Latin programma, from Greek prógramma “public notice in writing”; see pro-2, -gram1
  • Also especially British, pro·gramme .

Other words from program

  • re·pro·gram, verb (used with object), re·pro·grammed or re·pro·gramed, re·pro·gram·ming or re·pro·gram·ing.
  • un·pro·grammed, adjective

Words that may be confused with program

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for program

program

sometimes programme

/ (ˈprəʊɡræm) /


noun
  1. a sequence of coded instructions fed into a computer, enabling it to perform specified logical and arithmetical operations on data

verb-grams, -gramming, -grammed, -grammes, -gramming or -grammed
  1. (tr) to feed a program into (a computer)

  2. (tr) to arrange (data) into a suitable form so that it can be processed by a computer

  1. (intr) to write a program

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for program

program

[ prōgrăm′ ]


  1. A organized system of instructions and data interpreted by a computer. Programming instructions are often referred to as code. See more at source code. See also programming language.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for program

program

A series of instructions given to a computer to direct it to carry out certain operations. The term code is often used to denote large-scale operations.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.