'Heuristic' definitions:
Definition of 'heuristic'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Of or relating to or using a general formulation that serves to guide investigation [ant: algorithmic]
noun
A commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem [syn: heuristic, heuristic rule, heuristic program]
Definition of 'Heuristic'
From: GCIDE
- Heuristic \Heu*ris"tic\ (h[-u]*r[i^]s"t[i^]k), n.
- 1. A heuristic method; a specific heuristic procedure. [PJC]
- 2. A theory or approach which serves to promote discovery or learning by encouraging experimentation. [PJC]
Definition of 'Heuristic'
From: GCIDE
- Heuristic \Heu*ris"tic\ (h[-u]*r[i^]s"t[i^]k), a. [Gr. e"yri`skein to discover.]
- 1. Serving to promote discovery or learning; -- used especially of thories or paradigms which stimulate new ideas for discovering facts in experimental sciences. [1913 Webster +PJC]
- 2. Serving to stimulate people to learn and discover on their own, especially by encouraging experimental and trial-and-error methods for solving problems. [PJC]
- 3. Pertaining to or based on trial-and-error and experimental methods of learning and evaluation. [PJC]
- 4. (Computers) Based on the use of an efficient trial-and error method to search a space of possible solutions to a problem, or to find an acceptable approximate solution, when an exact algorithmic method is unavailable or too time-consuming. [PJC]
Synonyms of 'heuristic'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- analytic,
- cut-and-try,
- empirical,
- examinational,
- examinatorial,
- examining,
- experimental,
- explorational,
- explorative,
- exploratory,
- fact-finding,
- feeling,
- groping,
- hit-or-miss,
- indagative,
- inspectional,
- inspectorial,
- investigational,
- investigative,
- investigatory,
- pilot,
- probationary,
- probative,
- probatory,
- proving,
- provisional,
- tentative,
- test,
- testing,
- trial,
- trial-and-error,
- trying,
- verificatory,
- zetetic