Main Entry:

al·go·rithm

Pronunciation:

\ˈal-gə-ˌri-thəm\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

alteration of Middle English algorisme, from Old French & Medieval Latin; Old French, from Medieval Latin algorismus, from Arabic al-khuwārizmi, from al-Khwārizmī fl a.d. 825 Islamic mathematician

Date:

1926

: a procedure for solving a mathematical problem (as of finding the greatest common divisor) in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation ; broadly : a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing some end especially by a computer

— al·go·rith·mic \ˌal-gə-ˈrith-mik\ adjective

— al·go·rith·mi·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb