ˈsubroutine Computers.
[sub- 5 c.]
A routine designed to be stored in a computer's memory so that longer, self-contained programs can make use of it any number of times without its being written into the program each time.
| c 1946 Goldstine & von Neumann in J. von Neumann Coll. Wks. (1961) V. 25 Both..machines are controlled by instructions punched into several tapes and they can be ordered to switch from one to the other as desired. They are usually referred to as ‘master routine’ and ‘sub⁓routine’ tapes. 1948, 1951 [see routine n. (a.) 1 d]. 1956 G. A. Montgomerie Digital Calculating Machines xii. 248 We then transfer control to this subroutine whenever it is required, and arrange for its last action to be the transfer of control back to the main programme. 1959 M. H. Wrubel Primer of Programming for Digital Computers iv. 100 Use the subroutine for sinh x and cosh x to construct a program for calculating f = sinh (x + y)/cosh x cosh y. 1973 C. W. Gear Introd. Computer Sci. iv. 156 Any built-in subroutines and functions required by the program are loaded with it. 1980 R. L. Duncan Brimstone xi. 272 ‘We..can't handle the master program... So we'll attack the subroutines.’.. The computer responded. |