Computer software

computing a piece of computer software that you use to record people’s names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses etc

alpha version (noun)

the first form of a new piece of computer equipment or software, made to be tested and usually changed several times before the final product is sold

API (noun)

application programming interface: a set of rules and tools for building software applications that allows them to communicate with other software

app (noun)

a piece of software that is designed to do a particular job, especially one that people use on a smartphone

application (noun)

computing a piece of computer software that is designed to do a particular job

application software (noun)

software used for writing documents, creating charts, building databases etc that is not part of the computer’s operating system

authoring software (noun)

software used for creating files that contain video, pictures, words and sound

automatic recovery program (noun)

software that runs automatically when a piece of equipment fails, so that the system continues to work

autoresponder (noun)

a piece of software that automatically sends you a message telling you another Internet user cannot reply to your email

backup utility (noun)

a piece of software that makes the process of backing up computer information easier

beta version (noun)

a form of a new product or new software that is given to people to test before it is sold to the public

betaware (noun)

software that is a beta version

BIOS (noun)

basic input/output system: the software that controls the way many basic parts of the computer work, for example the keyboard, screen, and disk drives

bloatware (noun)

software that uses a lot more computing power than is necessary and therefore wastes memory or disk space that could be used for other purposes

bridgeware (noun)

computer equipment or software that makes changing from one computer system to another easier, for example by changing the file format

bundled software (noun)

software that is already on your new computer when you buy it and is included in its price

check indicator (noun)

a piece of computer equipment or software that shows there is a fault in a file that you have received

checking program (noun)

a piece of software that finds mistakes in computer programs

CMS (noun)

content management system: a type of software that allows you to edit and organize data, and to manage the way work is done and shared when people are working together

collator (noun)

a piece of software that arranges information that you have collected in a sensible order

communications software (noun)

software that allows a user to control a modem and use Internet services

content management system (noun)

a type of software that allows you to edit and organize data, and to manage the way work is done and shared when people are working together

courseware (noun)

computer programs used for teaching people a subject or skill

database server (noun)

a piece of software that runs on a server computer on a network and allows users on different computers to be able to use a database

demand paging (noun)

a piece of software that makes extra memory available when the computer needs to run more programs than normal

demo (noun)

informalcomputing a piece of computer software that you can try for a period before buying the full program, or that shows you what the full program is like and how it works

development software (noun)

a set of programs that helps someone to write new software and make sure it is working correctly

device manager (noun)

a piece of software that allows you to control the use of a printer, screen, or other piece of equipment

DIM (abbreviation)

document image management: software that allows a user to record and store printed information in a digital form that a computer can use

disassembler (noun)

a piece of software that changes machine language back into assembly language

document image management (noun)

DIM

DOS (computing)

computing Disk Operating System: the basic software in a computer that makes it work and allows you to use a program. It is usually used only in older computers.

driver (noun)

computing software that controls a piece of equipment connected to a computer

DTV (abbreviation)

digital television: a television that uses electronic signals

editor program (noun)

a piece of software that allows the user to choose parts of a file and change them, get rid of them, or add things to them

emulator (noun)

a piece of software that does the same as another piece of software but that works with a different type of computer

enterprise software (noun)

software that is designed for a particular type of organization and controls many aspects of its business

evaluation copy (noun)

a piece of software that has the most important features of a new software product and is designed for people to try before buying the full product

expert system (noun)

a type of computer software that uses a process similar to the way humans think in order to provide people with solutions to problems relating to a particular subject

freeware (noun)

computer software that is available free on CD-ROM or from the Internet. Software that you use free for a short time and then pay for is called shareware

gadget (noun)

a small piece of software that you can add to a website in order to customize it

garbageware (noun)

computer software of very low quality

grammar checker (noun)

a piece of software that checks documents to make sure they have no grammar mistakes

groupware (noun)

software and other computer tools that make it possible for people in different places to work on the same project

integrated software (noun)

software such as an operating system or word-processor that is stored in a computer system and has been designed for that particular system

interface (noun)

a piece of software or a connection that allows two pieces of computer equipment, for example a computer and a printer, to work together

interfacing (noun)

equipment or software that allows two computers or programs to interface

killer app (noun)

informal killer application: a piece of software that is so popular that it makes many people buy the computer system that it operates on

library (noun)

computing a collection of computer software that someone can buy or borrow

licence agreement (noun)

a legal document that comes with a software product and states how you can use the software and how many people are allowed to use it

listserv (computing)

computing a piece of software that automatically sends a copy of every email received to all members of a group

maintenance routine (noun)

a piece of software that you use to make sure that there are no problems with a computer system that could cause damage to it

malware (noun)

software such as a virus that is designed to damage or destroy information on a computer

mashup (noun)

a website or piece of software making use of information from more than one website, for example using photographs from one website and text from another

multiuser program (noun)

a piece of software that allows many users to enter the times and dates of meetings, things they must do etc in a single place

operating system (noun)

the software that tells the parts of a computer how to work together and what to do

package (noun)

a set of different pieces of computer software that are sold together as one unit

paint program (noun)

a piece of software that allows a user to draw pictures on screen in different colours, with different styles of brush and special effects

password protection (noun)

software for which a user has to enter a password before he or she can use it

patch (noun)

computing a piece of software that you add to a computer program in order to improve it or remove a fault

payware (noun)

software that you have to pay for

PING (abbreviation)

packet Internet groper: a piece of software that tests all the nodes on a network to make sure that they are working correctly

preprocessor (noun)

a piece of software that partly prepares information before it is used

presentation software (noun)

software that allows a user to create a business presentation with words, pictures, and charts

release (noun)

computing a new version of software

sequencer (noun)

a piece of software that allows a user to write music for electronic musical instruments, record notes from instruments, and mix together several pieces of music

shareware (noun)

computer software that you can get on the Internet and use for a period of time before paying for it

soft goods (noun)

computing software that you can buy and download from the Internet

software (noun)

programs used by computers for doing particular jobs

spam killer (noun)

software that automatically finds and deals with spam

spyware (noun)

software put onto your computer without you realizing it that sends information about you and your Internet use over the Internet

system software (noun)

the operating system and programs used to operate a computer system

update (noun)

computing a piece of software that contains recent improvements to a computer program

upgrade (noun)

computing a piece of equipment or software designed to make a computer more powerful

vapourware (noun)

a new product, especially computer software, that is announced to the general public but has not yet been produced or made available to buy

virus checker (noun)

software that finds and removes computer viruses from a computer

web browser (noun)

a software program that is used for finding and looking at pages on the Internet

workflow (noun)

software designed to improve the flow of electronic documents around an office network, from user to user

zenware (noun)

software that is designed to block things that distract you on a computer so that it is easier to concentrate on what you are doing

Synonyms and antonyms of Computer software in British Thesaurus