recursion

American  

[ri-kur-zhuhn] / rɪˈkɜr ʒən /

noun

Mathematics, Computers.

1. the process of defining a function or calculating a number by the repeated application of an algorithm.

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recursion British  

/ rɪˈkɜːʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of returning or running back

2. logic maths the application of a function to its own values to generate an infinite sequence of values. The recursion formula or clause of a definition specifies the progression from one term to the next, as given the base clause f (0) = 0, f ( n + 1) = f ( n ) + 3 specifies the successive terms of the sequence f ( n ) = 3 n

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Other Word Forms

• recursive adjective

Etymology

Origin of recursion

1925–30; < Late Latin recursiōn- (stem of recursiō ) a running back, equivalent to recurs ( us ) ( recourse ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

This paper prompted Liao and her colleagues to investigate whether crows, with their renowned cognitive skills, might possess the capacity for recursion as well.

From Scientific American

Even in the academy, fellow polymaths were bedazzled by the breadth of his boundless ruminations into metaphysics, modal logic, recursion theory, identity materialism and the ontological nature of numbers.

From New York Times

Her comedy resembles an infinite recursion, a hall of mirrors in which the reflections rarely flatter.

From New York Times

They are created in a sort of feedback loop, what computer scientists call "recursion."

From Salon

But most systems have built-in programs to limit recursion.

From Nature