- the programs that can be used with a particular computer system
Compare hardware
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024
soft•ware /ˈsɔftˌwɛr, ˈsɑft-/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable* used with a singular verb]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024- Computing
- Computingprograms for directing a computer or processing electronic data (distinguished from hardware).
- Radio and Televisionany material requiring the use of equipment, esp. audiovisual material such as film, tapes, or records.
soft•ware
(sôft′wâr′, soft′-),USA pronunciation n.
- Computingthe programs used to direct the operation of a computer, as well as documentation giving instructions on how to use them. Cf. hardware (def. 5).
- Radio and Televisionanything that is not hardware but is used with hardware, esp. audiovisual materials, as film, tapes, records, etc.:a studio fully equipped but lacking software.
- Show Business[Television Slang.]prepackaged materials, as movies or reruns, used to fill out the major part of a station's program schedule.
- soft + ware1 1955–60
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
software /ˈsɒftˌwɛə/ n
'software' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
BBS
- BitTorrent
- DBMS
- Eula
- Gates
- MP3
- Plug and Play
- SDK
- TCO
- UML
- access method
- adware
- alpha test
- antivirus
- app
- architecture
- author
- beta test
- browser
- bulletin board
- bundled
- cartridge
- command-driven
- compatible
- computer law
- computer science
- configure
- conversion
- copy protection
- courseware
- crash
- desktop publishing
- document
- documentation
- dongle
- download
- driver
- e-wallet
- electronic spreadsheet
- emulate
- environment
- extreme programming
- firmware
- freeware
- freeze
- ftp
- gangbuster
- gateway
- graphical user interface
- groupware