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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

al·go·rithm

Audio Help [al-guh-rith-uh

m] Pronunciation Key

–noun

a set of rules for solving a problem in a finite number of steps, as for finding the greatest common divisor.

[Origin: 1890–95; var. of algorism, by assoc. with Gk arithmós number. See arithmetic

]

—Related forms

al·go·rith·mic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
algorithm

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

al·go·rithm Audio Help (āl'gə-rĭth'əm) Pronunciation Key
n. A step-by-step problem-solving procedure, especially an established, recursive computational procedure for solving a problem in a finite number of steps.

[Variant (probably influenced by arithmetic) of algorism.]

al'go·rith'mic (-rĭth'mĭk) adj., al'go·rith'mi·cal·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
algorithm

1699, from Fr. algorithme refashioned (under mistaken connection with Gk. arithmos "number") from O.Fr. algorisme "the Arabic numeral system," from M.L. algorismus, a mangled transliteration of Arabic al-Khwarizmi "native of Khwarazm," surname of the mathematician whose works introduced sophisticated mathematics to the West (see algebra). The earlier form in M.E. was algorism (c.1230), from O.Fr. Modern use of algorithmic to describe symbolic rules or language is from 1881.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

algorithm
noun
a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

algorithm Audio Help (āl'gə-rĭ

'əm) Pronunciation Key
A finite set of unambiguous instructions performed in a prescribed sequence to achieve a goal, especially a mathematical rule or procedure used to compute a desired result. Algorithms are the basis for most computer programming.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
algorithm [(al-guh-rith-uhm)]

A set of instructions for solving a problem, especially on a computer. An algorithm for finding your total grocery bill, for example, would direct you to add up the costs of individual items to find the total.

[Chapter:] Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

algorithm algorithm, programming
A detailed sequence of actions to perform to accomplish some task. Named after the Iranian mathematician, Mohammed Al-Khawarizmi.
Technically, an algorithm must reach a result after a finite number of steps, thus ruling out brute force search methods for certain problems, though some might claim that brute force search was also a valid (generic) algorithm. The term is also used loosely for any sequence of actions (which may or may not terminate).
Paul E. Black's Dictionary of Algorithms, Data Structures, and Problems.
(2002-02-05)