English vocabulary · C1
Recursion
rɪˈkɜːrʒən · n.
It means a function that calls itself. Each call runs the same steps, until a stop point is reached.
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Example sentences
- The code crashed due to endless recursion.
- Recursion made the search run much faster.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- re — again (from Latin)
- currere — to run (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- LOOP (a process repeats in a cycle)
- CYCLE (stages repeat in a fixed sequence)
- REPEAT (the same action occurs again)
Words with the same root
currere — to run
- current — running at this moment — the flow of water or electricity in motion
- occur — to run into being — to happen or take place
- currency — money that runs through society — the flow of exchange
Lesson notes
Recursion. It means a function that calls itself. Each call runs the same steps, until a stop point is reached.
Similar words are loop, cycle, and repeat. Use recursion when a function calls itself to solve a problem.
The code crashed due to endless recursion. Recursion made the search run much faster.
From Latin. Re means again. Currere means to run. Running back into itself, again and again — that is recursion.