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Glite Dictionary
🤖 To set up early 🧠 To influence early
to preprogram

to preprogram

1 4.8
To set a device so it will work by itself later
  • verb
  • /ˌpriːˈprəʊɡræm/
translation icon : preprogramar
  • The engineer decided to preprogram the heating system to adjust the temperature automatically.

Examples

  • You could preprogram it to do all sorts of neat things.

    Blog text (21)

  • But just to make sure, we preprogram gestating clones before they leave the cloning chamber with everything they know, feel, and think.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • You can preprogram the coffee maker to start brewing at 7 AM every morning.

  • Homeowners can preprogram their smart lights to turn on at sunset.

Synonyms

to set
vsto preprogram
622 1.0

To prepare something for use or an event

makes devices start and run by themselves later rather than only making them ready
to configure
vsto preprogram
47 5.2

To change the settings of a device like a computer for a specific use

sets systems beforehand so they run independently later rather than only being arranged
to preset
vsto preprogram
3 3.9

To set something before you need to use it

makes devices run automatically later rather than only adjusting settings
to preconfigure
vsto preprogram
  • Specialized
1 5.3

To set up a device or program in advance so it is ready to use

sets systems to operate automatically later rather than just being ready
to prespecify
vsto preprogram
1 7.8

Decide or say something before an event starts

sets up devices so they run by themselves later rather than only stating requirements
to automatize
vsto preprogram
  • Specialized
7.2

To make something work without people using machines or computers

prepares systems beforehand so they run by themselves later rather than only removing people

How Automated

to automate
52 4.0
to preprogram
1 4.8
to program
  • Specialized
186 3.4
to configure
47 5.2
to set up
983 2.7

Surface Forms

preprogram infinitive
preprogrammed past
preprogrammed past participle
preprogramming present participle
preprograms third person singular

Morphology

preprogram = program (transparent) = pre + program

Adding 'pre-' to 'program' straightforwardly gives the meaning 'program in advance'.

Etymology

Preprogram comes from pre- meaning 'before' and program meaning 'a plan or set of instructions'. So to preprogram a machine is to put the instructions in place 'before' it runs, so it will work automatically later.