heuristic

heu·ris·tic  (hy-rstk)

adj.

1. Of or relating to a usually speculative formulation serving as a guide in the investigation or solution of a problem: "The historian discovers the past by the judicious use of such a heuristic device as the 'ideal type'" (Karl J. Weintraub).

2. Of or constituting an educational method in which learning takes place through discoveries that result from investigations made by the student.

3. Computer Science Relating to or using a problem-solving technique in which the most appropriate solution of several found by alternative methods is selected at successive stages of a program for use in the next step of the program.

n.

1. A heuristic method or process.

2. heuristics (used with a sing. verb) The study and application of heuristic methods and processes.

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[From Greek heuriskein, to find.]

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heu·risti·cal·ly adv.

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heuristic [hew-rist-ik]

Adjective

(of a method of teaching) allowing students to learn things for themselves by trial and error [Greek heuriskein to discover]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	heuristic - a commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem heuristic program, heuristic rule formula, rule - (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials" lateral thinking - a heuristic for solving problems; you try to look at the problem from many angles instead of tackling it head-on
Adj.	1.	heuristic - of or relating to or using a general formulation that serves to guide investigation algorithmic - of or relating to or having the characteristics of an algorithm