English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
noun

sed

sehd
Quiz me More like this

Sed (noun) means a command-line program used on Unix-like systems to search, replace, and edit text automatically, line by line, without opening it in a full text editor. Example: “He ran a quick sed command to swap every "colour" for "color" in the file.”

noun
1
A command-line program used on Unix-like systems to search, replace, and edit text automatically, line by line, without opening it in a full text editor.
"He ran a quick sed command to swap every "colour" for "color" in the file."
"The build script uses sed to strip comments out of the SQL dump before importing it."
verb
1
To process or modify a text file or stream using the sed program.
"Just sed the log file to remove the timestamps before you share it."

How to use sed

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tool (and, informally, a verb) for making quick find-and-replace edits to text files from the command line.

Memory tip

You will mostly meet this word in programming and sysadmin contexts, almost never in everyday writing.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
run sed on a file a sed script sed and awk
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sed.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
seds
Third person singular
seds
Past tense
sedded
Test yourself on “sed” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He ran a quick _____ command to swap every "colour" for "color" in the file.

Etymology

Short for "stream editor", the name given to the original Unix tool when it was created in the 1970s.

· First attested 1970

Class of 1970 sed joined the language around 1970.
bionic BMX boof Brenna co
See the full Class of 1970 →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sed” mean?
The word “sed” means a command-line program used on Unix-like systems to search, replace, and edit text automatically, line by line, without opening it in a full text editor. In plain terms, a tool (and, informally, a verb) for making quick find-and-replace edits to text files from the command line.
How do you pronounce “sed”?
“Sed” is pronounced sehd (/sɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “sed” in a sentence?
Here is “sed” used in a sentence: “He ran a quick sed command to swap every "colour" for "color" in the file.”
What part of speech is “sed”?
Depending on how it is used, “sed” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sed” come from?
The word “sed” dates back to around 1970. Short for "stream editor", the name given to the original Unix tool when it was created in the 1970s.
How many meanings does “sed” have?
“Sed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a command-line program used on Unix-like systems to search, replace, and edit text automatically, line by line, without opening it in a full text editor.