Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

high-level language
     
        (HLL) A programming language which provides some level of
        abstraction above {assembly language}.  These normally use
        statements consisting of English-like keywords such as "FOR",
        "PRINT" or "GOTO", where each statement corresponds to several
        {machine language} instructions.  It is much easier to program
        in a high-level language than in {assembly language} though
        the efficiency of execution depends on how good the {compiler}
        or {interpreter} is at optimising the program.
     
        Rarely, the variants "{VHLL}" and "{MLL}" are found.
     
        See also {languages of choice}, {generation}.
     
        (1994-12-07)