lambda calculus
nounUK /ˈlæm.də ˈkæl.kjʊ.ləs/
US /ˈlæm.də ˈkæl.kjə.ləs/
A way to describe and work with math functions using simple rules.
In computer science class, we learned how lambda calculus can model how programs compute.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A formal system in mathematical logic for expressing computation based on function abstraction and application.
Alonzo Church introduced lambda calculus in the 1930s as part of his work on the foundations of mathematics.
3. A theoretical foundation used to study computability and the equivalence of programming languages.
Researchers proved the language's expressiveness by translating its core constructs into lambda calculus.
4. A notation for defining anonymous functions, often written with the Greek letter lambda.
The expression (λx.x+1) 5 reduces to 6 in lambda calculus.