debug

[ dee-buhg ]

verb (used with object)

, de·bugged, de·bug·ging.

1. to detect and remove defects or errors from.
2. to remove electronic bugs from (a room or building).
3. Computers. to detect and remove errors from (a computer program).
4. to rid (a garden, plant, etc.) of insect pests, as by the application of a pesticide.

debug

/ diːˈbʌɡ /

verb

1. to locate and remove concealed microphones from (a room, etc)
2. to locate and remove defects in (a device, system, plan, etc)
3. to remove insects from

noun

1. 1. something, esp a computer program, that locates and removes defects in (a device, system, etc)
   2. ( as modifier )

      a debug program

Other Words From

• de·bugger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of debug¹

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + bug ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of debug¹

C20: from de- + bug ¹

Example Sentences

The operations used OpenAI’s technology to generate social media posts, translate and edit articles, write headlines and debug computer programs, typically to win support for political campaigns or to swing public opinion in geopolitical conflicts.

From New York Times

"It took a lot of hours staring at a computer, and a lot of debugging, frantically texting and emailing each other to figure this out," Santos recalls.

From Science Daily

The only exception was that each team was permitted one laptop for work on the project, but it had to be handed over to be scanned, debugged, and approved for use.

From Literature

Few tasks are more tedious than debugging software — a process that can consume as much as 50% of an engineer’s time.

From Seattle Times

That should help debug systems and also benefit safety, the researchers say: If an AI is planning something dangerous, a human operator can tell and can intervene.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• unscramble