ALGORITHM

[al.go.rithm] n [alter. of ME algorisme, fr. OF & ML; OF, fr. ML algorismus, fr. Ar al-khuwarizmi, fr. al-Khuwarizmi fl a.d. 825 Arab mathematician] (ca. 1894): 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 esp. by a computer -- al.go.rith.mic adj -- al.go.rith.mi.cal.ly adv