Meaning of algorithm in English

algorithm

mathematics, computing

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/ˈæl.ɡə.rɪ.ðəm/ uk

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/ˈæl.ɡə.rɪ.ðəm/

a set of mathematical instructions or rules that, especially if given to a computer, will help to calculate an answer to a problem:

Music apps use algorithms to predict the probability that fans of one particular band will like another.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Calculations & calculating

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Computer concepts

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Related word

algorithmic adjective

(Definition of algorithm from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Examples from literature

"I asked her how to find the calling procedure's program counter on the stack and she came up with an algorithm in real time."
"That algorithm is bogus."
Additionally, a more intelligent algorithm may imply more long-term complexity cost and bug-chasing than are justified by the speed improvement.
The choice for people then is made by some algorithm or calculating machine.
Those who are convinced that such patterns and algorithms capture the complete essence of the self view this prospect with pleasant anticipation.

algorithm | Intermediate English

algorithm

noun [ C ]

us/ˈæl·ɡəˌrɪð·əm/

mathematics

a list of instructions for solving a problem

(Definition of algorithm from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

algorithm | Business English

algorithm

noun [ C ]

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/ˈælɡərɪðəm/ us

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a set of mathematical instructions that must be followed in a fixed order, and that, especially if given to a computer, will help to calculate an answer to a mathematical problem:

a computer/mathematical/search algorithm The exchanges created computer algorithm systems to recreate the trading activity.

(Definition of algorithm from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of algorithm

algorithm

Give us an overview of what they're - what they're looking for, like what kind of routes the algorithms are trying to create.

From NPR

Computer animation uses all different kinds of formulas and algorithms depending on the software and place you use it.

From Gizmodo

I started checking oracular music-genome algorithms and streaming sites for associated acts.

From Wired

This is not a book loaded with charts, spreadsheets and algorithms but rather a straightforward anecdotal piece with something for everyone.

From Huffington Post

Worse yet, all this stuff is dependent on machine learning algorithms that are crude and incredibly difficult to improve.

From The Atlantic

The algorithm certainly wasn't perfect, and it could only work on the limited set of words that the patients were reading from.

From Gizmodo

And the algorithms keep moving, learning and evolving to react to every molecular movement with sub-molecular speed.

From Huffington Post

Clearly, e-harmony's matching algorithm provided a lot of false positives for me -- but, it only takes one true positive, so whatever.

From Fast Company

Oh yes, of course we're always refining our codes, optimizing our algorithms.

From Fast Company

These moments appeared in proof-completions, or maybe algorithms.

From Slate Magazine

Still, the company is developing algorithms that sort out malicious flags from relevant data.

From Wired

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.