debug
verb · noun
Simple meaning
Locate and correct errors in a computer program code.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
deebuhgSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
diˈbʌɡ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
computer science
Locate and correct errors in a computer program code
computer science
To search for and eliminate malfunctioning elements or errors in something, especially a computer program or machinery.
electronics
To remove a hidden electronic surveillance device from (somewhere).
us
To remove insects from (somewhere), especially lice.
noun
The action, or a session, of reviewing source code to find and eliminate errors.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Varies by meaning
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Locate and correct errors in a computer program code
Used this way, debug is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a computing use: it carries a fixed technical meaning inside software and systems work.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Technology
- Technical/specialist writing
- Business/professional
- Science
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use debug
- “The programmer had to debug the code to fix the error.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
A program that helps in locating and correcting programming errors.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.