Applet

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small software application designed to perform a specific function within a larger program or web browser
2. A lightweight program created to execute a particular task in conjunction with a broader software platform or web interface
3. A compact software tool that operates within a larger system to accomplish designated functions or enhance user experience

Etymology: "Applet" is a blend of "app" and the diminutive suffix "-let," a pairing that usually signals "small thing," as in "booklet" or "piglet." The "app" part is itself a clipping of "application," so the word is essentially "a little application." The suffix has been attached to other nouns in English over the centuries, so this kind of formation is unremarkable in itself. The word is commonly said to have been influenced by Apple, the computer company, and the source records that the term originated in AppleScript, a scripting language developed by Apple. Whether the company's name shaped the choice of word is not something the evidence settles, so the Apple connection is best understood as a possible influence rather than the main source.

Synonyms: application, program, software, widget, module