heuristic
[ hyoo-ris-tik or, often, yoo- ]
/ hyʊˈrɪs tɪk or, often, yʊ- /
adjective
serving to indicate or point out; stimulating interest as a means of furthering investigation.
encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems on his or her own, as by experimenting, evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error: a heuristic teaching method.
of, relating to, or based on experimentation, evaluation, or trial-and-error methods.
Computers, Mathematics.
pertaining to a trial-and-error method of problem solving used when an algorithmic approach is impractical.
noun
a heuristic method of argument.
the study of heuristic procedure.
Origin of heuristic
1815–25; < New Latin
heuristicus, equivalent to Greek
heur(ískein) to find out, discover + Latin
-isticus
-istic
OTHER WORDS FROM heuristic
heu·ris·ti·cal·ly, adverb non·heu·ris·tic, adjective un·heu·ris·tic, adjective un·heu·ris·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby heuristic
heu,
heuchera,
heulandite,
heuneburg,
heurige,
heuristic,
heuristics,
heusler alloy,
hevea,
hevelian halo,
hevelius
Example sentences from the Web for heuristics
Furthermore, to handle the massive influx of information we process on a moment-by-moment basis, the brain relies on heuristics.
The World Is Getting Better, Argues New Book, ‘Abundance’ |Sam Harris |February 21, 2012 |DAILY BEASTAfter all, the logic of actions, influenced by heuristics as well, and the logic inherent to literacy are not identical.
The Civilization of Illiteracy |Mihai NadinLogic, rhetoric, heuristics, and dialectics interact inside this framework.
The Civilization of Illiteracy |Mihai NadinMediation, along with heuristics, is definitory of the human species.
The Civilization of Illiteracy |Mihai Nadin
British Dictionary definitions for heuristics (1 of 2)
heuristics
/ (hjʊəˈrɪstɪks) /
noun
(functioning as singular) maths logic
a method or set of rules for solving problems other than by algorithm
See also algorithm (def. 1), artificial intelligence
British Dictionary definitions for heuristics (2 of 2)
heuristic
/ (hjʊəˈrɪstɪk) /
adjective
helping to learn; guiding in discovery or investigation
(of a method of teaching) allowing pupils to learn things for themselves
- maths science philosophy using or obtained by exploration of possibilities rather than by following set rules
- computing denoting a rule of thumb for solving a problem without the exhaustive application of an algorithma heuristic solution
noun
(plural)
the science of heuristic procedure
Derived forms of heuristic
heuristically, adverbWord Origin for heuristic
C19: from New Latin
heuristicus, from Greek
heuriskein to discover