nearest neighbor analysis
nounUK /ˌnɪə.rɪst ˈneɪ.bə əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/
US /ˌnɪr.ɪst ˈneɪ.bɚ əˈnæl.ə.sɪs/
A way to study points on a map by checking how close each point is to the points around it.
The scientist used nearest neighbor analysis to see if the trees in the forest were growing close together or far apart.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In computer science, a method that finds the closest matching data point to a new one.
The app used nearest neighbor analysis to suggest songs that sound like the one you just played.
3. In math, a way to measure how evenly points are spread across a space.
The students used nearest neighbor analysis to check whether the dots on their graph were spread out evenly.
4. A technique in image processing that compares a pixel with the pixels next to it.
The photo software used nearest neighbor analysis to smooth the edges of the picture.