recursion

[ ri-kur-zhuh n ]
/ rɪˈkɜr ʒən /

noun Mathematics, Computers.

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

Origin of recursion

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

Words nearby recursion

recurrent laryngeal nerve, recurrent ulcerative stomatitis, recurring, recurring decimal, recurring digital fibroma of childhood, recursion, recursion formula, recursive, recursive definition, recursive function, recursive subroutine

British Dictionary definitions for recursion

recursion
/ (rɪˈkɜːʃən) /

noun

the act or process of returning or running back
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

Derived forms of recursion

recursive, adjective

Word Origin for recursion

C17: from Latin recursio, from recurrere recur