noun
program
PROH-gram
noun
1
A planned set of activities or a course of action with a goal.
"The company launched a training program for new hires."
2
A set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.
"She wrote a program to automate the report."
3
A broadcast show on television or radio.
"They watched their favorite program every Thursday night."
verb
1
To write code or instructions for a computer.
"He learned to program in Python over the summer."
How to Use Program
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA plan, a broadcast, or a set of computer instructions, depending on context.
UK vs US
"Program" is standard in American English for all senses; British English traditionally reserves "programme" for TV shows and plans, but keeps "program" for computing.
Common pairings
run a program
training program
computer program
Word Forms
programmed past tense, programed past tense, programs plural, programs singular
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Etymology
From Greek programma, "a public notice," from pro- ("before") plus grapho ("to write").