Recursion definitions

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RECUR'SION, n. [L. recursus, recurro; re and curro, to run.] Return. [Little used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (mathematics) an expression such that each term is generated by repeating a particular mathematical operation

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Late Latin recursion-, recursio, from recurrere Date: 1616 1. return 1 2. the determination of a succession of elements (as numbers or functions) by operation on one or more preceding elements according to a rule or formula involving a finite number of steps 3. a computer programming technique involving the use of a procedure, subroutine, function, or algorithm that calls itself one or more times until a specified condition is met at which time the rest of each repetition is processed from the last one called to the first — compare iteration

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the act or an instance of returning. 2 Math. the repeated application of a procedure or definition to a previous result to obtain a series of values. Phrases and idioms: recursion formula Math. an expression giving successive terms of a series etc. Derivatives: recursive adj. Etymology: LL recursio (as RECUR)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Recursion Re*cur"sion (-sh?n), n. [L. recursio. See Recur.] The act of recurring; return. [Obs.] --Boyle.