lambda calculus

== English == === Etymology === Coined by Alonzo Church after the use of the Greek letter lambda (λ) as the basic abstraction operator in the calculus. === Pronunciation === === Noun === lambda calculus (countable and uncountable, plural lambda calculi) (computing theory) Any of a family of functionally complete algebraic systems in which lambda expressions are evaluated according to a fixed set of rules to produce values, which may themselves be lambda expressions. ==== Usage notes ==== When referring to lambda calculus, it is often prefixed with the definite article. I.e., both "lambda calculus" (without a definite article) and "the lambda calculus" are commonly used, and mean the same thing. ==== Meronyms ==== alpha conversion beta reduction eta conversion lambda term ==== Derived terms ==== simply typed lambda calculus typed lambda calculus ==== Related terms ==== calculus lambda lambda abstraction lambda expression ==== Translations ==== === See also === combinator functionally complete recursive function Turing machine