From WordNet (r) 2.0:

software
     n : (computer science) written programs or procedures or rules
         and associated documentation pertaining to the operation
         of a computer system and that are stored in read/write
         memory; "the market for software is expected to expand"
         [syn: software system, software package, package]
         [ant: hardware]

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03):

software
     
        <programming> (Or "computer program", "program", "code") The
        instructions executed by a computer, as opposed to the
        physical device on which they run (the "hardware").
     
        The term was coined by the eminent statistician, John Tukey.
     
        Programs stored on non-volatile storage built from
        integrated circuits (e.g. ROM or PROM) are usually
        called firmware.
     
        Software can be split into two main types - system software
        and application software or application programs.  System
        software is any software required to support the production or
        execution of application programs but which is not specific to
        any particular application.  Examples of system software would
        include the operating system, compilers, editors and
        sorting programs.
     
        Examples of application programs would include an accounts
        package or a CAD program.  Other broad classes of
        application software include real-time software, business
        software, scientific and engineering software, embedded
        software, personal computer software and artificial
        intelligence software.
     
        Software includes both source code written by humans and
        executable machine code produced by assemblers or
        compilers.  It does not usually include the data processed
        by programs unless this is in a format such as multimedia
        which depends on the use of computers for its presentation.
        This distinction becomes unclear in cases such as spread
        sheets which can contain both instructions (formulae and
        macros) and data.  There are also various intermediate
        compiled or semi-compiled, forms of software such as
        library files and byte-code.
     
        Some claim that documentation (both paper and electronic) is
        also software.  Others go further and define software to be
        programs plus documentation though this does not correspond
        with common usage.
     
        The noun "program" describes a single, complete and
        more-or-less self-contained list of instructions, often stored
        in a single file, whereas "code" and "software" are
        uncountable nouns describing some number of instructions which
        may constitute one or more programs or part thereof.  Most
        programs, however, rely heavily on various kinds of operating
        system software for their execution.  The nounds "code" and
        "software" both refer to the same thing but "code" tends to
        suggest an interest in the implementation details whereas
        "software" is more of a user's term.
     
        (2002-07-21)