programmableadj.n.
/ˈprəʊɡrəməbl/, /prə(ʊ)ˈɡraməbl/, U.S. /proʊˈɡræməb(ə)l/ A. adj.
1. Capable of being scheduled in accordance with a programme of events.
ΚΠ
1953 Jrnl. Finance 8 128 Projection of programmable replacement and major repairs year by year.
2. Of an apparatus, operation, etc.: capable of being programmed (programme v. 4a, 5a). Of a control or facility: capable of being assigned a function by the user.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [adjective]
programmable1953
programmed1953
user-programmable1975
1953 Jrnl. Symbolic Logic 18 281 The problem..has been solved only when..a procedure programmable on computers, has been devised.
1959 Times Rev. Industry May 36/2 A data processing system..not based on a..programmable computer.
1967 N. S. M. Cox & M. W. Grose Organization Bibliogr. Rec. by Computer ii. 46 The elaborate mechanical and studio devices used to compose pages and flats are now replaced by programmable operations generated by algorithm.
1971 Sci. Amer. Aug. 100/1 (advt.) Others know us as a computer company: more than 10,000 own our programmable calculators and computers.
1985 Internat. Musician June 31/1 (advt.) Digital programable synthesizer.
1988 Which? Dec. 569/3 We tell you which ovens have programmable functions like autocook and memory.
2001 Smarthouse Feb.–Mar. 62/1 The mouse is ball-free and has three programmable buttons including a finger wheel for fast scrolling.
B. n.
A programmable calculator or hand-held computer.
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society > computing and information technology > hardware > computer > [noun] > calculator
calculating machine1832
Comptometer1894
subtractor1914
calculator1946
programmable1964
1964 Times 15 Feb. 11/1 (advt.) A complete range of calculators from portables to programmables.
1977 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Apr. 94/2 (advt.) All our hand-held and portable programmables incorporate HP's special RPN logic system.
1987 D. W. Karger & F. H. Bayha Engineered Work Measurement (ed. 4) xix. 464 The principal programmables are offered by Hewlett Packard and Texas Instruments.
Compounds
programmable logic controller n. Computing and Manufacturing Technology a programmable controller based on logic circuits and used for automatically controlling real-time processes such as the operation of machinery and industrial processes; abbreviated PLC.
ΚΠ
1973 Control Engin. Apr. 49/1 Programmable logic controllers are being marketed today as direct substitutes for relay sequencers.
1993 R. J. Pond Introd. Engin. Technol. (ed. 2) ix. 269 The digital controller, probably a programmable logic controller located on the factory floor, offers real-time control for sequencing of operations.
1998 N.Y. Times 27 Dec. i. 24/5 Programmable logic controllers are..used to control a wide range of equipment, everything from heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, to plastic injection molding machines.
Derivatives
ˌprogrammaˈbility n. the property of being programmable.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > programming language > program or code > [noun] > being programmable
programmability1964
1964 Science 11 Sept. 1098 (advt.) Other..features include programmability, series/parallel operation, and remote sensing.
1987 B. Leatham-Jones Elements Industr. Robotics i. 3 Robots can handle a number of different cargoes... Their programmability and the provision of sensory feedback enable them to deal sympathetically with cargoes that may be fragile or delicate.
2004 Future Music May 176/1 (advt.) Fantastic sound and all the programmability of an analogue synth.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1953