programs
noun · verb
Form of program , plural of program.
Simple meaning
A sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
prohgramzSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈpɹoʊɡɹæmz
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.
noun
plural of programcomputer science
A sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute
plural of program
A computer program.
plural of programbroadcasting
A performance of a show or other broadcast on radio or television.
verb
third-person singular of program
To enter a program or other instructions into (a computer or other electronic device) to instruct it to do a particular task.
third-person singular of program
To put together the schedule of an event.
third-person singular of program
To cause to automatically behave in a particular way.
third-person singular of program
Arrange a program of or for
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute
Used this way, programs 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.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Sequence / enter
Performance
Other combinations
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Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
A series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
A person who designs and writes and tests computer programs.
A trading technique involving large blocks of stock with trades triggered by computer programs.
A collection of standard programs and subroutines that are stored and available for immediate use.
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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.