recursion

noun

re·​cur·​sion ri-ˈkər-zhən 

1

: return sense 1

2

: the determination of a succession of elements (such as numbers or functions) by operation on one or more preceding elements according to a rule or formula involving a finite number of steps

3

: a computer programming technique involving the use of a procedure, subroutine, function, or algorithm that calls itself one or more times until a specified condition is met at which time the rest of each repetition is processed from the last one called to the first compare iteration

Examples of recursion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bonus points for creating organizational glossaries, or eBooks that teach staff the difference between say, zero shot, single shot or many shot prompting, as well as chain of thought and recursion. —Clint Boulton, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

There is no need for memory to grow or shrink in undefined ways, for recursion, or anything like that. —Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 3 May 2024

This last step launches a kind of recursion: because the supertiles behave just like metatiles, the same grouping process applies to them as well. —Craig S. Kaplan, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024

What then is too much, when a sleight of the rational names plenty as recursion in thickets, absent blaring data and the insects vanish. —Alice Gribbin, The New York Review of Books, 2 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin recursiōn-, recursiō "return," from Latin recurrere "to run back, return" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at recur

Note: The form -curs- for expected *-co(r)st- follows the past participle and verbal noun cursus; seen note at course entry 1.

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for recursion

• aspersion
• aversion
• conversion
• dispersion
• diversion
• eversion
• excursion
• immersion
• incursion
• inversion
• perversion
• reversion