programme

SayPROH-gram/ˈpɹəʊɡɹæm//ˈpɹoʊˌɡɹæm/

Pluralprogrammes

Verbprogrammes, programming, programmed

US spellingprogram

10 meanings of programme

Practice

1
set of activitiesnoun
An organised series of activities, or a plan setting out what is to be done.
The council announced a five-year programme of road repairs.
Several local charities run training programmes for young people leaving care.
UsageUsually a programme of activities: a programme of road repairs. Computer software is usually spelt program, even in British English.
2
broadcast shownoun
A single show or other item broadcast on radio or television.
The BBC is making a programme about the history of the high street.
Children's programmes used to fill the late-afternoon schedule on both channels.
UsageA programme is on a channel or on the radio. People watch, make and show programmes.
Note
On radio and television a programme can be a single broadcast, such as an episode, a documentary or a news bulletin, or a show that runs over many episodes. What a channel broadcasts as a whole is its programming.
3
university coursenouncountable
A structured course of study offered by a university or college in a particular subject.
She was offered a place on a master's programme in civil engineering at Leeds.
The university now runs several degree programmes that can be studied part-time.
UsageUsually a programme in a subject, and a student gets a place on a programme.
Similarcourse
4
printed leafletnoun
A printed leaflet giving information about a play, a match or another event.
The programme listed the cast and included a short history of the theatre.
Fans queued outside the ground to buy programmes before kick-off.
5
train to reactverbtransitive
To make someone or something behave in a particular way automatically, as if by reflex.
Years in the army had programmed him to wake at five every morning.
Some parents unknowingly programme their children to fear failure.
UsageUsually programme someone to do something. The forms are programmed and programming.
6
verbtransitive
To plan the timetable of an event or of a radio or television station, deciding what takes place or is broadcast and when.
The organisers programmed the weekend's talks so that no two popular speakers clashed.
We need someone to programme the conference before the venue opens bookings.
7
verbtransitive
To enter instructions into an electronic device or machine so that it carries out a particular task on its own.
Most people never learn to programme the timer on their central heating properly.
He had programmed the video recorder to tape the match while he was at work.
Similarset, configure

Less common meanings

8
noun
The main aims a person or group stands behind, especially those of a political party or candidate.
The new government's programme includes reform of the planning system.
Both candidates set out radical programmes during the leadership contest.
Note
Its closest synonym is platform, the word for what a party or candidate stands on. In Britain a party usually sets out its programme in a manifesto before an election. The word also reaches past politics to any group or publication with a declared line, such as the causes a newspaper campaigns for.
9
nouncolloquial
A particular way of thinking about something or of going about it.
Come on, get with the programme: the meeting started ten minutes ago.
If the new manager wants the squad to get with the programme, he will have to explain what it is.
UsageNearly always in get with the programme, said impatiently to someone who is lagging behind.
Note
This meaning lives almost entirely in one phrase, get with the programme, an impatient call for someone to accept how things are now being done and fall into line. It is said to whoever is lagging behind, as Ellis says it to John in Die Hard (1988).
10
track listnoun
A list of tracks picked by the listener to be played in a chosen order.
The stereo lets you save a programme of tracks from any disc in the changer.
Switch to programme mode, then pick the tracks in the order you want to hear them.
Note
Music players borrowed the word for a running order the listener sets. Nothing is broadcast or performed: the machine simply plays the chosen tracks in the chosen sequence.

Used only in American English, spelled program: a computer program; to write software.

Practice

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Origin

From French programme, which goes back through Late Latin programma ("a proclamation, edict") to Ancient Greek prógramma ("a written public notice, an edict"). The Greek word comes from prográphō ("I set forth as a public notice"), made up of pró ("before") and gráphō ("I write"). Programma shares its source as a doublet.