software

A2 Topic:Technology & Computing

US /ˈsɔf(t)ˌwɛɹ/ UK /ˈsɒf(t)ˌwɛə/ See IPA manual

Freq #6096

Meanings

1

noun
The programs and instructions that tell a computer what to do.

You need to install the right software to edit these photos.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the programs and... package

More app program

Word family

Derived forms adwarebiosoftwarebloatwarefirmwarefreewarehardwareintersoftwaremalwaremicrosoftmicrosoftwareneurosoftwarenonsoftware

Related forms applicationassemblerassembly bug code coding compilation compiler computerdebuggingexecutablefirmware

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

Computing sense from soft + -ware, by contrast with hardware (“the computer itself”). Coined by John Tukey in 1958. The earlier sense of software to mean tangible products with a soft texture may have fallen out of common usage before the computing sense was created.

Topics

Technology & Computing

External links

# software

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɔf(t)ˌwɛɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɒf(t)ˌwɛə/
**Frequency rank:** 6096

## Meanings
1. The programs and instructions that tell a computer what to do.

## Examples
- You need to install the right software to edit these photos.

## Synonyms
- app
- program

## Derived Forms
- adware
- biosoftware
- bloatware
- firmware
- freeware
- hardware
- intersoftware
- malware
- microsoft
- microsoftware
- neurosoftware
- nonsoftware

## Related Forms
- application
- assembler
- assembly
- bug
- code
- coding
- compilation
- compiler
- computer
- debugging
- executable
- firmware

## Etymology
Computing sense from soft + -ware, by contrast with hardware (“the computer itself”). Coined by John Tukey in 1958. The earlier sense of software to mean tangible products with a soft texture may have fallen out of common usage before the computing sense was created.

## AI Etymology
Software: Computing sense from soft + -ware, by contrast with hardware (“the computer itself”). Coined by John Tukey in 1958. The earlier sense of software to mean tangible products with a soft texture may have fallen out of common usage before the computing sense was created. In current use it includes the sense The programs and instructions that tell a computer what to do.

## Topics
- Technology & Computing

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