compiler

noun

com·​pil·​er kəm-ˈpī-lər 

1

: one that compiles

2

: a computer program that translates an entire set of instructions written in a higher-level symbolic language (such as C) into machine language before the instructions can be executed

Examples of compiler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This information is simply called metadata, and it is generated by the compilers used to compile an application that will run on the SoC. —Jothy Rosenberg, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024

The dedication of the A-0 compiler as an IEEE Milestone was held in Philadelphia on 7 May at the University of Pennsylvania. —IEEE Spectrum, 13 Sep. 2024

Though there are many hundreds of songs in the catalog, compilers must pick from the same limited subset of favorites, arranging them in various concatenations and outcroppings. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025

The Official Charts Company is celebrating a major milestone, and the chart compiler has been pulling back the curtain to reveal which artists have ruled one of the U.K.’s most competitive tallies for the past decade. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compiler

• profiler
• filer
• pilar
• theiler

Kids Definition

compiler

noun

com·​pil·​er kəm-ˈpī-lər 

1

: one that compiles

2

: a computer program that automatically translates an entire set of instructions written in a computer programming language (as BASIC) into machine language