A character-string of not more than 31 characters that forms one of the following: function-name A COBOL word that names a mechanism provided to determine the value of a function. reserved word A COBOL word specified in the list of words that can appear in a COBOL program. A reserved word cannot appear in a program as a user-defined word or system-name. system-name A COBOL word that has already been defined by the implementor to refer to the program's operating environment. text-word A character (or a sequence of characters) in a COBOL library, source program, pseudo-text, or dictionary that is subject to certain restrictions. user-defined word A COBOL word that must appear in the source program to satisfy the format of a clause or statement. verb A word that causes the compiler or object program to take action.