macro
7 definitions found
macro - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
macro \macro\ a.
very large in scale or scope or capability; as,
macroeconomics.
[WordNet 1.5]
Macro- \Mac"ro-\pref. [Gr. makro`s, adj.]
A combining form signifying long, large, great; as
macrodiagonal, macrospore, macromolecule, macrocosm.
[1913 Webster]
macro \macro\ n. [shortened form of macroinstruction]
1. a single computer instruction which symbolizes, and is
converted at the time of program execution or by a
compiler into, a series of instructions in the same
computer language.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. A keystroke (or combination of keystrokes) which
symbolizes and is replaced by a series of keystrokes; -- a
convenient feature of some advanced programs, such as word
processors or database programs, which allows a user to
rapidly execute any series of operations which may be
performed multiple times. Such macros may typically be
defined by the program user, without rewriting or
recompiling the program.
[PJC]
macro - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :
macro
adj 1: very large in scale or scope or capability
n 1: a single computer instruction that results in a series of
instructions in machine language [syn: macro, macro instruction
]
macro - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :
MACRO
1. Assembly language for VAX/VMS.
2. PL/I-like language with extensions for string processing.
"MACRO: A Programming Language", S.R. Greenwood, SIGPLAN
Notices 14(9):80-91 (Sep 1979).
[Jargon File]
macro
A name (possibly followed by a formal argument list) that is
equated to a text or symbolic expression to which it is to be
expanded (possibly with the substitution of actual arguments
) by a macro expander.
The term "macro" originated in early assemblers, which
encouraged the use of macros as a structuring and
information-hiding device. During the early 1970s, macro
assemblers became ubiquitous, and sometimes quite as powerful
and expensive as HLLs, only to fall from favour as improving
compiler technology marginalised assembly language
programming (see languages of choice). Nowadays the term is
most often used in connection with the C preprocessor,
Lisp, or one of several special-purpose languages built
around a macro-expansion facility (such as TeX or Unix's
troff suite).
Indeed, the meaning has drifted enough that the collective
"macros" is now sometimes used for code in any special-purpose
application control language (whether or not the language is
actually translated by text expansion), and for macro-like
entities such as the "keyboard macros" supported in some text
editors (and PC TSRs or Macintosh INIT/CDEV keyboard
enhancers).
(1994-12-06)
macro - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :
macro
/mak'roh/, n.
[techspeak] A name (possibly followed by a formal arg list) that is
equated to a text or symbolic expression to which it is to be
expanded
(possibly with the substitution of actual arguments) by a macro
expander. This definition can be found in any technical dictionary;
what those won't tell you is how the hackish connotations of the term
have changed over time.
The term macro originated in early assemblers, which encouraged the
use of macros as a structuring and information-hiding device. During
the early 1970s, macro assemblers became ubiquitous, and sometimes
quite as powerful and expensive as HLLs, only to fall from favor as
improving compiler technology marginalized assembler programming (see
languages of choice). Nowadays the term is most often used in
connection with the C preprocessor, LISP, or one of several
special-purpose languages built around a macro-expansion facility
(such as TeX or Unix's [nt]roff suite).
Indeed, the meaning has drifted enough that the collective macros is
now sometimes used for code in any special-purpose application
control
language (whether or not the language is actually translated by text
expansion), and for macro-like entities such as the keyboard macros
supported in some text editors (and PC TSR or Macintosh INIT/CDEV
keyboard enhancers).
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