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bug

bug

211 2.8
An error in a computer program that makes it not work correctly
  • noun
  • /bʌg/
  • Specialized
translation icon : error
  • After testing, we identified a bug that caused the application to crash unexpectedly.
  • fix bugs
  • software bug
  • find bugs

Don't you think that is, again, feature versus bug it?

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Examples

  • Some companies have the capabilities to focus on fixing the bug in both corporate systems and factory operations.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Today, detecting and avoiding data-race bugs can be far from easy.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The goal is to move towards a bug free program.

  • You have a serious bug problem.

  • Yeah, we're still in the beta phase, working out a few bugs.

  • Does the web page have bugs, such as images that cannot be viewed, dead, or broken?

    Academic text (2001)
  • A more serious difficulty is that some bugs are manifest only when a problem is run at scale.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Lingren's team is constantly on the lookout for bugs, but not the type used in espionage.

    Academic text (1994)
  • We discovered a critical bug that prevented the software from starting correctly.

  • The engineers fixed several minor bugs before releasing the update.

Synonyms

mistake
vsbug
1.0

A wrong action or decision

is about internal program or system faults, not human error
error
vsbug
  • Specialized
300 3.0

A computer problem that makes a program give a wrong result or stop

is a term for program or system flaws causing incorrect operation
defect
vsbug
150 3.4

A fault that makes something less useful or valuable

is more specific to faults that break program or system behaviour
glitch
vsbug
  • Specialized
108 4.7

A small sudden fault in a machine or computer program that makes it work wrong

is a general name for any program or system flaw, not only brief ones
flaw
vsbug
73 1.9

A small fault in an object or machine that makes it less useful

also applies to program or system faults, not only physical items
fault
vsbug
69 3.2

A problem in a machine or system that makes it not work

is used more for software problems than for all mechanical malfunctions
4 2.8

A problem in a computer that makes it give wrong or unexpected results

is limited to problems inside programs or systems rather than any device failure
programming error
vsbug
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A mistake in computer code that makes software behave wrongly

is broader, not limited to faults made by developers
software error
vsbug
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A problem in a computer program that makes it give wrong results

is a general informal label for program or system problems
semantic error
vsbug
  • Specialized
6.9

An error in a program's logic that makes it give wrong results even when the code runs without errors

is the wider term covering any program or system flaw

Antonyms

97 3.7

A thing that has no mistakes and shows the best quality

Idioms

1 7.2

Being very comfortable and warm under blankets

Tell someone about an idea so they will think about it later

to swallow a bug
  • Informal
9.8

To look surprised and uncomfortable

Compounds

84 2.1

A small insect with no wings that lives in beds and bites people at night

4 2.8

A small insect that makes a soft light at night

4 7.5

Having big eyes that stick out and look surprised

bug-out
  • Jargon
2 7.8

Ready to use in an emergency to leave quickly

1 5.8

A large brown beetle seen in late spring that often flies to lights

1 3.5

An insect that gives off a strong bad smell when threatened

1 5.7

A black and yellow beetle that eats potato leaves

bug-out
  • US
1 8.3

A quick plan to leave a place because of danger

1 9.1

A large bloodsucking bug that bites near the mouth and can spread Chagas disease

1 6.7

A small bright insect that feeds on plant juices, often on leaves

1 6.4

A small insect with a white, cottony covering that eats and harms plants

1 7.3

A common North American beetle whose young live on roots and adults eat leaves and flowers

true bug
  • Specialized
1 8.1

An insect with a thin mouth that pierces and sucks fluids, like a water strider

stink bug
  • Offensive
1 8.4

An unpleasant person who annoys others

9.3

An insect that moves on water using paddle-like back legs to eat small animals

bug storm
  • Jargon
7.9

A sudden large number of software errors that cause system problems

7.4

A person or object with big eyes that stick out, like a car headlight

A person who studies insects like beetles

bug-hunter
  • Jargon
4.0

A person who finds and reports software bugs and security problems

A small insect whose young eat wool carpets and clothes

chinch bug
  • Specialized
9.8

A small black and white bug that eats grasses like wheat and can damage crops

conenose bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A large insect that sucks blood from people and sometimes spreads disease

A large insect that sucks blood and can spread Chagas disease

coreid bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A bug with a long body and often widened hind legs that feeds on plants

9.5

A small light brown cockroach that often lives in kitchens and houses

assassin bug
  • Specialized
8.8

A long-legged bug that eats other insects and sometimes sucks blood from mammals

A small yellow or orange bug with four black stripes that makes spots on plant leaves

A small yellow insect with four black stripes on its back that feeds on plants

8.1

A small insect with a thin net pattern on its wings and body that feeds on plant leaves

A large insect that sucks plant sap and has leaflike hind legs

A large insect that feeds on plant juices and has leaf-shaped parts on its back legs

lygaeid bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A small brightly colored insect that eats crops and damages fruit trees

lygus bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect that eats plants and can spread disease to crops

May bug
  • UK
7.5

A large brown beetle that appears in late spring and whose young eat plant roots

mirid bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A small insect that feeds on plants, usually on leaves

A large water insect that eats small fish and other water animals

6.0

A small land animal that rolls into a ball when touched

6.0

A small bright insect that feeds on the juice inside plants

tarnished plant bug
  • Specialized
9.6

A small insect that feeds on many crop and garden plants and damages fruits

sow bug
  • US
7.9

A small grey animal with a hard oval body that lives under stones and logs

8.4

A large insect that feeds on the sap of plants like squash and pumpkins, often damaging crops

4.8

A small light brown cockroach that lives in houses

4.1

A large insect with long legs that lives on the surface of water

wheel bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A large North American insect with a wheel-shaped crest that eats other insects

Y10K bug
  • Specialized
9.9

A possible computer problem when programs cannot use dates after the year 9999

How Serious

failure
  • Specialized
396 3.3
bug
  • Specialized
211 2.8
defect
150 3.4
glitch
  • Specialized
108 4.7

Surface Forms

bug singular
bugs plural

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the computer meaning of bug is to think of a real insect causing a machine to stop; one famous story says engineers once found a moth inside an early computer. That's why a bug now means an error or fault in a program or system.