intermediate-level language

In computer, communications, and data processing systems, a programming language that (a) is less machine-oriented than a machine language, (b) is not so machine-independent as a common language, such as Ada®, COBOL, or Fortran, (c) contains macros that are less powerful than common-language macros, and (d) usually is the object language of a root compiler. Examples of intermediate-level languages include assembly languages, such as PL/I. [From Weik '89]