iterate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To perform or repeat an action on each item in a set.
  2. To perform or repeat an action on the results of each such prior action.
  3. To utter or do a second time or many times; to repeat.
  4. To repeat an activity, making incremental changes each time.
noun
  1. An n-fold self-composition of a function.
  2. The image of a certain value under such a function.
adj
  1. Said or done again; repeated.
  2. Iterated.

Pronunciation

/ˈɪtəɹeɪt/ /ˈaɪtəɹeɪt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-iterate.wav [ˈɪɾəɹeɪt] /ˈɪtəɹæɪt/ [ˈɪɾəɹæɪt] /ˈɪtərət/

Word forms

iterate iterates iterating iterated

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in 1471, in Middle English, the verb in 1533, the noun in 1941; partly inherited from Middle English iterat(e) (adjective), partly borrowed from Latin iterātus, perfect passive participle of iterō (“to do something for a second time, repeat”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3)) , from iterum (“again”) + -ō. Sporadical participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.

Synonyms

reiterate iterate repeat reprise see Thesaurus:repeated

Related words

Derived words

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