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software program

software program

12 2.7
A set of written instructions that tells a computer what to do
  • noun
  • /ˈsɔftˌwɛr ˈprɒɡræm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : programa informático
  • You might have a custom built software program that a company has that was made for them.
  • computer software program
  • statistical software program
  • music software programs

But those are software programs and you got to have the hardware that will run it.

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Examples

  • In this wholly new endeavor, a software program has been created that models the processes of human intuition.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • A popular hypermedia software program that middle school students and teachers can learn easily is HyperStudio.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Over nine weeks, we observed 24 students using the reading software program.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Then they can try introducing a computer software program to just a few students.

    Academic text (1998)
  • One way to think of plug-ins is to consider them software programs operating within another software program.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Some fairly inexpensive software programs might be all you need to get started.

    Academic text (1993)
  • One type of collaborative writing software program available for the foreign language writing classroom is CommonSpace.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Students can save their scores on drill-and-practice software programs like Music Ace, Music Ace 2, or MiDisaurus.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The PC-based smartEDDY software program from SE Systems enables precise and non-contact, nondestructive measurements.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The new software program helped improve the overall performance of the computer system.

Synonyms

program
vssoftware program
  • Specialized
3.1

A set of written instructions a computer follows to do a task

is the same idea but adds documentation and system control focus
software
vssoftware program
  • Specialized
942 2.5

Programs that tell a computer what to do

is the set of instructions plus related documentation that direct system operation
computer program
vssoftware program
  • Specialized
32 2.3

A set of instructions that tells a computer what to do

is broader and also includes related documentation and system direction
software solution
vssoftware program
  • Specialized
2 3.2

A program that solves a specific problem for a person or business

focuses on instructions and documentation for running the whole system
application program
vssoftware program
  • Specialized
1 3.2

Computer software that helps you do specific tasks like writing or managing files

is general instructions and documentation for overall system operation
stored program
vssoftware program
  • Specialized
4.3

A program kept in a computer's memory so the computer can run it

is the set of instructions plus documentation directing system operation

How Complex

software system
  • Specialized
3 3.4
software program
  • Specialized
12 2.7
application
  • Specialized
326 3.9
script
  • Specialized
70 3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

software + program

The meaning of 'software program' is directly and transparently compositional from 'software' (programs and data for computer operation) and 'program' (coded instructions a computer executes); together they plainly denote a set of computer instructions. This noun+noun technical combination is cross-linguistically common in computing vocabulary, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Software program comes from two simple ideas: software, meaning things that are not solid and unlike 'hardware', and program, meaning a set of planned steps like a recipe. So a software program is a written set of 'instructions' stored on a computer that tells it what to do.