verb transitiveWord forms: preˈprogrammed or preˈprogramed, preˈprogramming or preˈprograming
to program beforehand
usually in the pp.
preprogram in American English
(priˈprouɡræm, -ɡrəm)
transitive verbWord forms: -grammed or -gramed, -gramming or -graming
to program in advance
to preprogram a manufacturing process
Word origin
[1960–65; pre- + program]This word is first recorded in the period 1960–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Pap test, bicycle kick, parvovirus, pop art, power playpre- is a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, where it meant “before”(preclude; prevent); applied freely as a prefix, with the meanings “prior to,” “in advance of,” “early,”“beforehand,” “before,” “in front of,” and with other figurative meanings (preschool; prewar; prepay: preoral; prefrontal)