program

¹pro·gram

noun \ˈprō-ˌgram, -grəm\

Definition of PROGRAM

1

[Late Latin programma, from Greek] : a public notice

2

a : a brief usually printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)

b : the performance of a program; especially : a performance broadcast on radio or television

3

: a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal

4

: curriculum

5

: prospectus, syllabus

6

a : a plan for the programming of a mechanism (as a computer)

b : a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (as a computer)

c : a sequence of coded instructions (as genes or behavioral responses) that is part of an organism

Examples of PROGRAM

1. a program of regular dental checkups
2. <the program will tell us the scheduled order of musical numbers>

Origin of PROGRAM

French programme agenda, public notice, from Greek programma, from prographein to write before, from pro- before + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use: 1633

Related to PROGRAM

Synonyms

agenda, calendar, docket, schedule, timetable, bill of fare

Related Words

card, dance card, exercises, plate; arrangement, order, ordering, organization, sequence, setup

Other Broadcasting Terms

continuity, dissolve, fade, feed, remote, residual, spike, wipe

Rhymes with PROGRAM

air dam, Annam, ashram, exam, flimflam, goddamn, grandam, grand slam, hard clam, imam, logjam, madame, Mailgram, milldam, nizam, Priam, quondam, surf clam, tam-tam, thiram, trigram, webcam, whim-wham, ziram

²program

transitive verb

programmed or programedprogram·ming or program·ing

Definition of PROGRAM

1

a : to arrange or furnish a program of or for : bill

b : to enter in a program

2

: to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism) : provide with a program

3

a : to insert a program for (a particular action) into or as if into a mechanism

b : to control by or as if by a program

c (1) : to code in an organism's program (2) : to provide with a biological program <cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin>

4

: to predetermine the thinking, behavior, or operations of as if by computer programming <children are programmed into violence — Lisa A. Richette>

— pro·gram·ma·bil·i·ty \(ˌ)prō-ˌgra-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— pro·gram·ma·ble \ˈprō-ˌgra-mə-bəl\ adjective or noun

Variants of PROGRAM

program also programme

Examples of PROGRAM

1. He programmed the computer to calculate his monthly expenses and earnings.
2. She is learning how to program in school.
3. Can you help me program my cell phone?

First Known Use of PROGRAM

1896

Other Computer-Related Terms

adware, flash, kludge, phishing, recursive, router