Fortran Computers.
(ˈfɔːtræn)
Also FORTRAN, fortran.
[f. for(mula tran(slation.]
A high-level programming language used chiefly for scientific and mathematical calculations. Freq. attrib.
| 1956 Computers & Automation Nov. 9/2 More recently, John Backus' group at IBM has prepared FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslation) for the IBM-704 computer. FORTRAN will translate into computer language a program written very close [sic] the language of the mathematician or scientist. 1957 J. W. Backus et al. in Proc. Western Joint Computer Conf. Feb. 188 (heading) The FORTRAN automatic coding system. Ibid., The programmer attended a one-day course on FORTRAN and..then programmed the job in four hours using 47 FORTRAN statements. 1966 Listener 15 Dec. 895/2 The technologist can always write his fortran and the literato compose his iambics. 1967 Electronics 6 Mar. 140/1 The Norden program features... Fortran language, which permits it to be used on any computer having a Fortran compiler. 1969 P. B. Jordain Condensed Computer Encycl. 223 The principal dialects today are FORTRAN II (now obsolescent) and FORTRAN IV. |