interpreter
n. one who orally translates from one language to another; clarifier, explainer; commentator | ||||
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Interpreter definition was found in categories: Computer & Internet(2) Language, Idioms & Slang(6) Social Science(1) Science & Technology(2) Religion & Spirituality(1) Encyclopedia(1)
Interpreter Definition from Computer & Internet Dictionaries & Glossaries
| FOLDOC |
interpreter
<programming> A program which executes other programs. This is in contrast to a compiler which does not execute its input program (the "source code") but translates it into executable "machine code" (also called "object code") which is output to a file for later execution. It may be possible to execute the same source code either directly by an interpreter or by compiling it and then executing the machine code produced.
It takes longer to run a program under an interpreter than to run the compiled code but it can take less time to interpret it than the total required to compile and run it. This is especially important when prototyping and testing code when an edit-interpret-debug cycle can often be much shorter than an edit-compile-run-debug cycle.
Interpreting code is slower than running the compiled code because the interpreter must analyse each statement in the program each time it is executed and then perform the desired action whereas the compiled code just performs the action. This run-time analysis is known as "interpretive overhead". Access to variables is also slower in an interpreter because the mapping of identifiers to storage locations must be done repeatedly at run time rather than at compile time.
There are various compromises between the development speed when using an interpreter and the execution speed when using a compiler. Some systems (e.g. some Lisps) allow interpreted and compiled code to call each other and to share variables. This means that once a routine has been tested and debugged under the interpreter it can be compiled and thus benefit from faster execution while other routines are being developed. Many interpreters do not execute the source code as it stands but convert it into some more compact internal form. For example, some BASIC interpreters replace keywords with single byte tokens which can be used to index into a jump table. An interpreter might well use the same lexical analyser and parser as the compiler and then interpret the resulting abstract syntax tree.
There is thus a spectrum of possibilities between interpreting and compiling, depending on the amount of analysis performed before the program is executed. For example Emacs Lisp is compiled to "byte-code" which is a highly compressed and optimised representation of the Lisp source but is not machine code (and therefore not tied to any particular hardware). This "compiled" code is then executed (interpreted) by a byte code interpreter (itself written in C). The compiled code in this case is machine code for a virtual machine which is implemented not in hardware but in the byte-code interpreter.
See also partial evaluation.
(1995-01-30)
<programming> A program which executes other programs. This is in contrast to a compiler which does not execute its input program (the "source code") but translates it into executable "machine code" (also called "object code") which is output to a file for later execution. It may be possible to execute the same source code either directly by an interpreter or by compiling it and then executing the machine code produced.
It takes longer to run a program under an interpreter than to run the compiled code but it can take less time to interpret it than the total required to compile and run it. This is especially important when prototyping and testing code when an edit-interpret-debug cycle can often be much shorter than an edit-compile-run-debug cycle.
Interpreting code is slower than running the compiled code because the interpreter must analyse each statement in the program each time it is executed and then perform the desired action whereas the compiled code just performs the action. This run-time analysis is known as "interpretive overhead". Access to variables is also slower in an interpreter because the mapping of identifiers to storage locations must be done repeatedly at run time rather than at compile time.
There are various compromises between the development speed when using an interpreter and the execution speed when using a compiler. Some systems (e.g. some Lisps) allow interpreted and compiled code to call each other and to share variables. This means that once a routine has been tested and debugged under the interpreter it can be compiled and thus benefit from faster execution while other routines are being developed. Many interpreters do not execute the source code as it stands but convert it into some more compact internal form. For example, some BASIC interpreters replace keywords with single byte tokens which can be used to index into a jump table. An interpreter might well use the same lexical analyser and parser as the compiler and then interpret the resulting abstract syntax tree.
There is thus a spectrum of possibilities between interpreting and compiling, depending on the amount of analysis performed before the program is executed. For example Emacs Lisp is compiled to "byte-code" which is a highly compressed and optimised representation of the Lisp source but is not machine code (and therefore not tied to any particular hardware). This "compiled" code is then executed (interpreted) by a byte code interpreter (itself written in C). The compiled code in this case is machine code for a virtual machine which is implemented not in hardware but in the byte-code interpreter.
See also partial evaluation.
(1995-01-30)
| Noman's Java(TM) Glossary |
interpreter
A module that alternately decodes and executes every statement in some body of code. The Java interpreter decodes and executes bytecode for the Java virtual machine
A module that alternately decodes and executes every statement in some body of code. The Java interpreter decodes and executes bytecode for the Java virtual machine
Interpreter Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Interpreter
(n.)
One who or that which interprets, explains, or expounds; a translator; especially, a person who translates orally between two parties.
(n.)
One who or that which interprets, explains, or expounds; a translator; especially, a person who translates orally between two parties.
| WordNet 2.0 |
interpreter
Noun
1. someone who mediates between speakers of different languages
(synonym) translator
(hypernym) mediator, go-between, intermediator, intermediary, intercessor
(hyponym) dragoman
(derivation) translate, interpret, render
2. someone who uses art to represent something; "his paintings reveal a sensitive interpreter of nature"; "she was famous as an interpreter of Shakespearean roles"
(hypernym) person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, human, soul
(derivation) represent, interpret
3. an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose; "the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government"
(synonym) spokesperson, representative, voice
(hypernym) advocate, advocator, proponent, exponent
(hyponym) ambassador
4. (computer science) a program that translates and executes source language statements one line at a time
(synonym) interpretive program
(hypernym) program, programme, computer program, computer programme
(derivation) translate, interpret, render
(classification) computer science, computing
Noun
1. someone who mediates between speakers of different languages
(synonym) translator
(hypernym) mediator, go-between, intermediator, intermediary, intercessor
(hyponym) dragoman
(derivation) translate, interpret, render
2. someone who uses art to represent something; "his paintings reveal a sensitive interpreter of nature"; "she was famous as an interpreter of Shakespearean roles"
(hypernym) person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, human, soul
(derivation) represent, interpret
3. an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose; "the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government"
(synonym) spokesperson, representative, voice
(hypernym) advocate, advocator, proponent, exponent
(hyponym) ambassador
4. (computer science) a program that translates and executes source language statements one line at a time
(synonym) interpretive program
(hypernym) program, programme, computer program, computer programme
(derivation) translate, interpret, render
(classification) computer science, computing
| The Devil's Dictionary |
INTERPRETER
Interpreter, (n.)
One who enables two persons of different languages to understand each other by repeating to each what it would have been to the interpreter's advantage for the other to have said.
Interpreter, (n.)
One who enables two persons of different languages to understand each other by repeating to each what it would have been to the interpreter's advantage for the other to have said.
| hEnglish - advanced version |
interpreter
interpreter
\in*ter"pret*er\ (?), n. [cf. of. entrepreteur, l. interpretator.] one who or that which interprets, explains, or expounds; a translator; especially, a person who translates orally between two parties. we think most men's actions to be the interpreters of their thoughts.
interpreter
n
1. someone who mediates between speakers of different languages [syn: translator]
2. someone who uses art to represent something; "his paintings reveal a sensitive interpreter of nature"; "she was famous as an interpreter of shakespearean roles"
3. an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose; "the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government" [syn: spokesperson, representative, voice]
4. (computer science) a program that translates and executes source language statements one line at a time [syn: interpretive program ]
similar words(5)
embedded lisp interpreter
command interpreter
tiny basic interpreter language
command-line interpreter
portable scheme interpreter
interpreter
\in*ter"pret*er\ (?), n. [cf. of. entrepreteur, l. interpretator.] one who or that which interprets, explains, or expounds; a translator; especially, a person who translates orally between two parties. we think most men's actions to be the interpreters of their thoughts.
interpreter
n
1. someone who mediates between speakers of different languages [syn: translator]
2. someone who uses art to represent something; "his paintings reveal a sensitive interpreter of nature"; "she was famous as an interpreter of shakespearean roles"
3. an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose; "the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government" [syn: spokesperson, representative, voice]
4. (computer science) a program that translates and executes source language statements one line at a time [syn: interpretive program ]
similar words(5)
embedded lisp interpreter
command interpreter
tiny basic interpreter language
command-line interpreter
portable scheme interpreter
| for Vocabulary Exams of KPDS, YDS,UDS (in Turkey); and SAT in America |
interpreter
A person who makes intelligible the speech of a foreigner by oral translation
A person who makes intelligible the speech of a foreigner by oral translation
| JM Welsh <=> English Dictionary |
Golwst
Golwst = n. an interpreter
Golwst = n. an interpreter
Lladmerydd
Lladmerydd = n. an interpreter, a translator
| Dream Dictionary |
Interpreter
To dream of an interpreter, denotes you will undertake affairs which will fail in profit.
To dream of an interpreter, denotes you will undertake affairs which will fail in profit.
Interpreter Definition from Science & Technology Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Technical English by wpv |
Interpreter
A system program that converts and executes each instruction of a high-level language program into machine code as it runs, before going onto the next instruction.
A system program that converts and executes each instruction of a high-level language program into machine code as it runs, before going onto the next instruction.
| RF Electronics |
Interpreter
A program that translates high level languages into machine readable code.
A program that translates high level languages into machine readable code.
Interpreter Definition from Religion & Spirituality Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary |
Mercurius
an orator; an interpreter
an orator; an interpreter
Interpreter Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
Interpreter
Interpreter can mean one of the following:
- Interpreter (communication), a person who facilitates dialogue between parties who use different languages.
- Interpreter (computing), a program designed to run other non-executable programs directly.
- Interpreter (history), a person who acts the role of a historical character in a living museum.
- The Interpreter, a 2005 movie starring Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn.
- Interpreter pattern, a software engineering design pattern
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