Algol
[ al-gol, -gawl ]
/ ˈæl gɒl, -gɔl /
noun
a star of the second magnitude in the constellation Perseus: the first known and most famous eclipsing binary star.
Also called
Demon Star.
Origin of Algol
1350–1400; Middle English < Arabic, equivalent to
al the +
ghūl
ghoul; as translation of Greek (Ptolemy)
gorgónion the head of the Gorgon Medusa, held by Perseus
Definition for algol (2 of 2)
ALGOL
[ al-gol, -gawl ]
/ ˈæl gɒl, -gɔl /
Computers.
a computer language in which information is expressed in algebraic notation and according to the rules of Boolean algebra.
Origin of ALGOL
1955–60;
algo(rithmic)
l(anguage)
Example sentences from the Web for algol
British Dictionary definitions for algol (1 of 2)
Algol
1
/ (ˈælɡɒl) /
noun
the second brightest star in Perseus, the first known eclipsing binary. Visual magnitude: 2.2–3.5; period: 68.8 hours; spectral type (brighter component): B8V
Word Origin for Algol
C14: from Arabic
al ghūl the
ghoul
British Dictionary definitions for algol (2 of 2)
Algol
2
/ (ˈælɡɒl) /
noun
a computer programming language designed for mathematical and scientific purposes; a high-level language
Word Origin for Algol
C20
alg (
orithmic)
o (
riented)
l (
anguage)