heuristic

CEFRC1

/hjuˈɹɪstɪk/

noun · adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A practical method that helps solve a problem quickly.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    That provides a useful, but not optimal, solution to a problem. Such algorithms are typically employed either because the only known algorithms that provide optimal solutions use too much time or resources, or else because there is no known algorithm that pro...

Examples

  • I don't think that heuristic will work.

  • Tom's approach to navigating corn mazes is heuristic.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
2

Also pronounced

  • /hjʊˈɹɪstɪk/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning
  1. That reasons from the value of a method or principle that has been shown by experimental investigation to be a useful aid in learning, discovery and problem-solving.

adjective

Extra meanings
  1. That employs a practical method not guaranteed to be optimal or perfect; either not following or derived from any theory, or based on an advisedly oversimplified one.

  2. That provides a useful, but not optimal, solution to a problem. Such algorithms are typically employed either because the only known algorithms that provide optimal solutions use too much time or resources, or else because there is no known algorithm that provides an optimal solution.

More examples

In context
  • It's a heuristic solution.

  • "The heuristic appraisal is the 'identification and evaluation of hints and clues that can provide direction to inquiry in the sometimes large gap between the extremes of complete knowledge and complete ignorance'”.

  • If a heuristic algorithm works for most of the input data or its maximum percentage error is tolerable, we may prefer the heuristic algorithm to an optimum algorithm that requires a long time.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The teacher used a blank approach to help students discover rules on their own.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

Irregular formation from Ancient Greek εὑρίσκω (heurískō, “I find, discover”) (compare the proper Greek term εὑρετικός (heuretikós)).