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sudo

sudo

2 8.4
A command that lets you run programs with administrator rights
  • other
  • /ˈsuːdoʊ/
  • Specialized
: sudo
  • To install new software, you often need to type sudo before the command.

Examples

  • Can you run that command with sudo?

  • He used sudo to access files that required administrator privileges.

  • Without sudo, the system will not let you make those changes.

  • You need to use sudo to install this software.

  • To install new software, you often need to type sudo before the command.

  • He used sudo to access files that required administrator privileges.

  • Without sudo, the system will not let you make those changes.

Surface Forms

sudo main

Morphology

sudo = superuser + do (semi-transparent) = superuser + do

The command name is a contraction/blend of 'superuser' + 'do' and indicates function for technical users, but the shortened form and technical context make it only partially transparent to general learners.

Etymology

Sudo is the name of a command made from the words superuser and do, with superuser meaning 'administrator' and do meaning 'to do'. The command sudo asks the system to 'do' a task with administrator rights, which is why you type sudo before commands that need special permission.