Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

programming language

American  
[proh-gram-ing lang-gwij] / ˈproʊ græm ɪŋ ˌlæŋ gwɪdʒ /

noun

  1. a high-level language used to write computer programs, as C++ or Python, or, sometimes, an assembly language.


programming language British  

noun

  1. a simple language system designed to facilitate the writing of computer programs See high-level language low-level language machine code

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

programming language Scientific  
/ prōgrăm′ĭng /
  1. An artificial language used to write instructions that can be translated into machine language and then executed by a computer. English and other natural languages are not used as programming languages because they cannot be easily translated into machine language.

  2. ◆ A compiled language is a language in which the set of instructions (or code) written by the programmer is converted into machine language by special software called a compiler prior to being executed. C++ and SmallTalk are examples of compiled languages.

  3. ◆ An interpreted language is a language in which the set of instructions (or code) written by the programmer is converted into machine language by special software called a compiler prior to being executed. Most scripting and macro languages are interpreted languages.

  4. See also program


programming language Cultural  
  1. In computer technology, a set of conventions in which instructions for the machine are written. There are many languages that allow humans to communicate with computers; C++, BASIC, and Java are some common ones.


Etymology

Origin of programming language

First recorded in 1955–60

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "programming language" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com