I. ˈprōˌgram, -raam, -ōgrəm noun
or pro·gramme -ˌgram
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Late Latin programma, from Greek, public notice, agenda, from prographein to write before, set forth as a public notice, from pro- pro- (I) + graphein to write; in sense 3, from New Latin programma, from Late Latin; in other senses, from French programme, from Late Latin programma — more at carve
1. : a public notice
2.
a.
(1) : a brief outline or explanation of the order to be pursued or the subjects embraced in a public exercise, performance, or entertainment ; especially : a printed or written list of the acts, scenes, selections, or other features composing a dramatic, musical, or other performance with the names of the performers
handed me the program of the concert
a theater program
(2) : an order of exercises or numbers
b. : the performance or execution of a program ; especially : a performance broadcast on radio or television
listen to a brilliant program
3. : programma 2
4.
a. : a plan of procedure : a schedule or system under which action may be taken toward a desired goal : a proposed project or scheme
had no program except to retain his job — John Gunther
sets up a buying program — A.M.Sullivan
significant characteristics of a leader are a … grasp of the current situation and a program for its solution — V.L.Albjerg
the party's program toward socialism
b.
(1) : a plan determining the offerings of an educational institution : curriculum
a school … attractive and comfortable but unsuited to the educational program — Education Digest
the core program
(2) : a plan of study for an individual student over a given period : schedule
had a heavy program in his freshman year
5. : a catalog of projected proceedings or features : prospectus , syllabus
6. : a printed bill, card, or booklet giving a program ; specifically : a dance order
a box full of yellowed ball programs with faded ribbons — Marcia Davenport
7. : a statement of an architectural problem and of the requirements to be met in offering a solution
8. : a coherent sequence of incidents, images, thoughts, or feelings providing the background for an instrumental composition that may be inferred by an interpreter or listener, or suggested by the title of the work, or supplied in the form of a poem or exposition
9.
a. : a plan for the programming of a mechanism (as a computer)
b. : a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted in a mechanism (as a computer)
II. transitive verb
also programme “
( programmed or programed ; programmed or programed ; programming or programing ; programs also programmes )
1.
a. : to arrange or furnish a program of or for : bill
amount of material needed to program these new stations will be tremendous — Christian Science Monitor
capable of programming social action with … confidence — R.T.La Piere
b. : to enter in a program
2.
a. : to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism) : provide with a program
b. : to insert a program for (a particular action) into or as if into a mechanism
III. noun
1. : a sequence of coded instructions (as genes or behavioral responses) that is part of an organism
2. : what is predominantly desired or expected
get with the program
IV. transitive verb
1. : to code in an organism's program
the death of cells and the destruction of tissues, organs, and organ systems are programmed as normal morphogenetic events in the development of multicellular organisms — J.W.Saunders, Jr.
2. : to provide with a biological program
cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin
3. : to direct or predetermine as if by computer programming ; especially : to direct or predetermine the thinking or behavior of
those who … programmed him to kill — Jim Hougan
children are programmed into violence — Lisa A. Richette