software
nounUK /ˈsɒf(t)ˌwɛə/ · US /ˈsɔf(t)ˌwɛɹ/
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.
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Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences Usually Encoded computer instructions, usually modifiable (unless stored in some form of unalterable memory such as ROM).
- Some software will only run on a particular platform.
- 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.1958, John W. Tukey, "The Teaching of Concrete Mathematics" in The American Mathematical Monthly, vol. 65, no. 1 (Jan. 1958), pp 1-9
2 more examples
- 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."1995, Paul Niquette, Softword: Provenance for the Word ‘Software’:
- 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.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:
2
Government, Military, Politics, War Usually The human beings involved in warfare, as opposed to hardware such as weapons and vehicles.
- 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.1989, Christopher Layton, A Step Beyond Fear: Building a European Security Community:
- […] preview of horrific images to come, as the hardware stage of the war yields to the software — or human — stage.1991, New York Magazine, volume 24, number 5, page 33:
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Dated, Usually Recorded music content, as opposed to the hardware necessary for reproducing it.
- […] an extremely long playing time is achieved, which might be unnecessary from a software point of view1979 December 6, Toshi T. Doi, Takashi Itoh, Hiroshi Ogawa, “A Long-Play Digital Audio Disk System”, in Journal of the AES, volume 27, number 12, pages 975–981:
- There seems to be a growing trend towards endorsement of the C-DAD system by equipment manufacturers and "software" (recorded material) producers around the world.1982 March, Len Feldman, “Digital Audio Disc”, in Radio-Electronics, volume 53, number 3, New York: Gernsback Publications, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2021, page 41:
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- Software availability will probably be a significant problem for at least the first few months of the system's commercial life. At present there are only two CD pressing plants in operation, CBS/Sony's in Japan and PolyGram's in Germany.1982 December, David Ranada, “Digital Debut: First impressions of the Compact Disc System”, in Stereo Review, volume 47, number 12, →ISSN, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2021, page 69:
- PLENTIFUL SOFTWARE Compact Disc already has support from the recording studios. Many familiar labels appear on these shining silver discs, so that a wide choice of music from the world's leading artistes is available.1984, CD202 Slimline CD Player (Philips advertising brochure), archived from the original on 31 Dec 2025:
- It should be noted that there are industry observers who feel that the whole concept of individually owned music software could become obsolete, and that in the future no digital consumer medium will exist. Instead, the listener will pay for a cable service whereby he can call up musical selections from a vast central electronic memory—a sort of library of music.1986, Daniel Sweeney, Demystifying Compact Discs: A Guide to Digital Audio, 1st edition, Blue Ridge Summit: TAB Books, →ISBN, page 161:
- Anders als bei Videorecordern […] war mit Blick auf die völlige Abhängigkeit von vorgefertigter Musik-Software die Einführung gleich mehrerer neuer Tonträgersysteme nicht zu erwarten.1996, Jürgen K. Lang, Das Compact Disc Digital Audio System, →ISBN, page 37:
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Archaic, Usually Soft goods, such as textiles.
- In fact, under the heads of hardware, software, and agriculture, the leading interests of the colony might be said to be grouped.1889, Parliamentary Debates, volume 61, Victoria. Parliament, page 1404:
- Drop into the first emporium you pass, whether of hardware or software, of dry goods or wet goods, and note how comparatively few of the articles displayed represent really original ideas1914, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, volume 3, page 167:
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- We have wheat "kings" and cotton "kings" and coal "kings"; railroad "kings", stationary engine "kings", and Mr Ford; "kings" in the realms of hardware, software, sectional bookcases, crime, and canned tomatoes.1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries:
- Derived terms
63 terms
adware, application software, applications software, biosoftware, bloatware, collaborative software, docketing software, firmware, free software, freeware, hardware, intersoftware, kitchen table software, kitchen-table software, libre software, malware, Microsoft, microsoftware, neurosoftware, non-free software, nonsoftware, presentation software, retroware, schlockware, service as a software substitute, shareware, softbot, softlifting, softmodem, softography, softphone, software archaeology, software architect, software architecture, software configuration management, software container, software defined radio, software deployment, software developer, software engine, software engineer, software escrow, software forge, software framework, software house, softwareless, software lifecycle, software life cycle, softwarematically, software package, software rot, softwarey, softwarily, softwarization, softworks, spyware, system software, systems software, telesoftware, time-tracking software, -ware, wetware, zombie software- Related terms
31 terms
firmware, hardware, software assurance, software crisis, software engineering, software state, vaporware, application, assembler, assembly, bug, code, coding, compilation, compiler, debugging, interpreter, linker, linking, open source, patch, programming, script, utilities, warez, computer, GUI, programming language, executable, source code, widget- Hypernyms
- creative work, intellectual property
- Hyponyms
71 terms
application, applications software, operating system, system software, systems software, virtual machine, window manager, device driver, installer, compiler, interpreter, debugger, disassembler, linker, IDE, assembler, profiler, collaborative software, computer game, docketing software, electronic game, media player, presentation software, screen saver, text editor, word processor, spellchecker, spell-checker, spell checker, spreadsheet, groupware, outliner, database, antivirus, firewall, client, server, middleware, emulator, simulator, expert system, obfuscator, censorware, video game, ERP, CRM, SCM, adware, abandonware, baitware, bloatware, crapware, crudware, demoware, malware, schlockware, shitware, spyware, crippleware, junkware, virus, donationware, postcardware, trialware, freeware, shareware, free software, libre software, open source, kitchen-table software, zombie software- Holonyms
- distro, software package