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software

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsɔfˌwɛɹ// UK //sˈɒftweə// soft·ware Archaic General-service

n. the programs and instructions that tell a computer or phone what to do. Unlike the physical machine, you cannot touch it.

n. the programs and other operating information used by a computer. Often contrasted with hardware, which refers to the physical components of a system.


SIMPLE

I need to update the software on my laptop.

CONTEXTUAL

The company spent thousands of dollars on new accounting software to help manage their taxes.

COMPLEX

Modern aircraft rely heavily on sophisticated software to manage flight controls and navigation, making the reliability of the code as critical as the mechanical integrity of the engines.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From soft + -ware, by contrast with hardware (“the computer itself”). Coined by John Tukey in 1958.

Usage

Uncountable; to refer to a single item, use 'a piece of software' or 'a software program'.

Pitfall

I downloaded many softwares.I downloaded a lot of software.Software is uncountable and does not have a plural form with 's'.

Idioms1 entry

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