relocatable program

6.8

A computer program that can be loaded and run from different parts of computer memory without change

noun

Specialized

: programa relocatable

Using a relocatable program, developers can avoid conflicts when loading software modules into memory.

Examples

Many compilers generate object code as a relocatable program for flexibility in system design.
The operating system makes use of a relocatable program to efficiently manage memory allocation.
A relocatable program can be easily moved between different systems.
Have you ever used a relocatable program?
Many compilers generate object code as a relocatable program for flexibility in system design.
The operating system makes use of a relocatable program to efficiently manage memory allocation.
Using a relocatable program, developers can avoid conflicts when loading software modules into memory.

Surface Forms

relocatable program singular

relocatable programs plural

Morphology

relocatable + program

The adjective 'relocatable' literally means 'able to be relocated/loaded at varying addresses' and combined with 'program' yields a straightforward compositional meaning: a program that can be moved or loaded into different memory locations without modification. This is regular English morphology and noun modification, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the intended sense.

Etymology

Relocatable program gives a simple picture: relocatable means 'able to be moved' and program is the software, so imagine a piece of furniture you can place in any room of the computer's 'memory' without changing it. So, it means 'a program that can be loaded and run from different memory locations'.