a sequence of microinstructions that controls the operation of an arithmetic and logic unit so that machine code instructions are executed
microprogram in American English
(ˌmaɪkroʊˈproʊˌgræm)
noun
Computing
microcode
microprogram in American English
(ˈmaikrəˌprouɡræm, -ɡrəm)
noun
Computing
a set of microinstructions that defines the individual operations that a computer carries out in response to a machine-language instruction
Derived forms
microprogrammable
adjective
Word origin
[1950–55; micro- + program]This word is first recorded in the period 1950–55. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Common Market, allograph, drip-dry, hot line, point-of-salemicro- is a combining form with the meanings “small” (microcosm; microgamete), “very small in comparison with others of its kind” (microcomputer; microlith), “too small to be seen by the unaided eye” (microfossil; microorganism), “dealing with extremely minute organisms, organic structures, or quantities ofa substance” (microdissection; microscope), “localized, restricted in scope or area” (microburst; microhabitat), “(of a discipline) focusing on a restricted area” (microeconomics), “containing or dealing with texts that require enlargement to be read” (microfilm; microreader), “one millionth” (microgram)