software
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsɒf(t)ˌwɛə/
note: without the cot–caught merger
ipa: /ˈsɔf(t)ˌwɛɹ/
note: of Canada
ipa: /ˈsɑf(t)ˌwɛɹ/
note: of the US
ipa: /ˈsɒf(t)ˌwɛɹ/
ipa: /ˈsɔf(t)ˌweː/
note: Indic
ipa: /ˈsɔfʈˌwa(r)/
note: non-rhotic, also
ipa: /-wer/
rhymes: -ɒftwɛə(ɹ)
homophone: softwear
Forms: form: softwares
Etymology: From soft + -ware, by contrast with hardware (“the computer itself”). Coined by John Tukey in 1958.
Senses: examples: text: The "software" comprising the carefully planned interpretive routines, compilers, and other aspects of automative programming are at least as important to the modern electronic calculator as its "hardware" of tubes, transistors, wires, tapes and the like.
ref: 1958, John W. Tukey, "The Teaching of Concrete Mathematics" in The American Mathematical Monthly, vol. 65, no. 1 (Jan. 1958), pp 1-9
text: As originally conceived, the word "software" was merely an obvious way to distinguish a program from the computer itself. A program comprised sequences of changeable instructions each having the power to command the behavior of the permanently crafted machinery, the "hardware."
ref: 1995, Paul Niquette, Softword: Provenance for the Word ‘Software’:
text: Cris “Space Rogue” Thomas, another ex-L0pht member who testified alongside Zatko that day, said that L0pht would do everything it could to get companies to collaboratively fix software issues the hacker group found.
ref: 2022 October 17, Sean Lyngaas and Clare Duffy, “How a 51-year-old celebrity hacker upended one of the world’s most influential social networks”, in CNN Business:
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: Encoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM).
examples: text: The Americans have devoted their attention to the hardware of disarmament: Europeans can make a special contribution to the 'software' or human content of detente.
ref: 1989, Christopher Layton, A Step Beyond Fear: Building a European Security Community:
text: […] preview of horrific images to come, as the hardware stage of the war yields to the software — or human — stage.
ref: 1991, New York Magazine, volume 24, number 5, page 33:
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: The human beings involved in warfare, as opposed to hardware such as weapons and vehicles.
Synonyms: word: program
word: software
word: app
Hypernyms: word: creative work
word: intellectual property
Hyponyms: word: application
word: applications software
word: operating system
word: system software
word: systems software
word: virtual machine
word: window manager
word: device driver
word: installer
word: compiler
word: interpreter
word: debugger
word: disassembler
word: linker
word: IDE
word: assembler
word: profiler
word: collaborative software
word: computer game
word: docketing software
word: electronic game
word: media player
word: presentation software
word: screen saver
word: text editor
word: word processor
word: spellchecker
word: spell-checker
word: spell checker
word: spreadsheet
word: groupware
word: outliner
word: database
word: antivirus
word: firewall
word: client
word: server
word: middleware
word: emulator
word: simulator
word: expert system
word: obfuscator
word: censorware
word: video game
word: ERP
word: CRM
word: SCM
word: adware
word: abandonware
word: baitware
word: bloatware
word: crapware
word: crudware
word: demoware
word: malware
word: schlockware
word: shitware
word: spyware
word: crippleware
word: junkware
word: virus
word: donationware
word: postcardware
word: trialware
word: freeware
word: shareware
word: free software
word: libre software
word: open source
word: kitchen-table software
word: zombie software
Coordinate terms: word: firmware
word: hardware
word: wetware
Meronyms: word: bug
word: code
word: comment
word: instruction
word: module
word: object
word: plugin
Derived terms: adware
application software
applications software
biosoftware
bloatware
collaborative software
docketing software
firmware
free software
freeware
hardware
kitchen table software
kitchen-table software
libre software
malware
Microsoft
microsoftware
neurosoftware
non-free software
nonsoftware
presentation software
schlockware
service as a software substitute
shareware
softbot
softlifting
softmodem
softography
software archaeology
software architect
software architecture
software configuration management
software container
software defined radio
software deployment
software engine
software engineer
software escrow
software forge
software framework
software house
softwareless
software life cycle
software lifecycle
softwarematically
software package
software rot
softwarily
softwarization
softworks
spyware
system software
systems software
telesoftware
time-tracking software
-ware
wetware
zombie software
Related terms: word: firmware
word: hardware
word: software assurance
word: software crisis
word: software engineering
word: software state
word: vaporware
word: application
word: assembler
word: assembly
word: bug
word: code
word: coding
word: compilation
word: compiler
word: debugging
word: interpreter
word: linker
word: linking
word: open source
word: patch
word: programming
word: script
word: utilities
word: warez
word: computer
word: GUI
word: programming language
word: executable
word: source code
word: widget