debug
/ˌdiːˈbʌɡ/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To find and fix errors in a computer program, device, or system. It also means to work out why something is not working properly.
- We need to debug the app before launch.
- She debugged the code all afternoon.
- The technician debugged the printer.
Adinary Nuance
Debug is more specific than fix. Use debug when the problem is in code, software, hardware, or a technical system. Fix is broader and can mean repairing anything, while debug usually suggests careful searching for the cause of an error. In everyday speech, people may still say fix even for technical problems.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- gỡ lỗi
- Spanish
- depurar
- Chinese
- 调试
- Japanese
- デバッグ
- Korean
- 디버그
Etymology
The word comes from early computer use in the 1940s and 1950s. It combines de- and bug, meaning to remove a problem or flaw.
Common phrases
debug codedebug a programdebug a systemdebug an issue
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is debug the same as fix?
- Not exactly. **Debug** is usually for technical problems, especially in code or software.
- Is debug a formal word?
- It is common in technical and business English. It sounds natural in IT, engineering, and academic writing.
- Can I say debug a machine?
- Yes, if you mean finding and removing a technical fault.
- What is the noun form of debug?
- The noun is usually **debugging** for the process of finding and fixing errors.