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Recursive vs Precursive - What's the difference?

recursive | precursive |

As adjectives the difference between recursive and precursive

is that recursive is drawing upon itself, referring back while precursive is preceding; introductory; precursory.

recursive

English

Adjective

{{examples-right, sense=function, The factorial function - : f(0) = 1 : f(n) = n \times f(n-1) where n is any natural number greater than 0}} (en adjective)
  • drawing upon itself, referring back.
    • The recursive nature of stories which borrow from each other
  • (mathematics, not comparable) of an expression, each term of which is determined by applying a formula to preceding terms
  • (computing, not comparable) of a program or function that calls itself
  • (computing theory, not comparable, of a function) which can be computed by a theoretical model of a computer, in a finite amount of time
  • (computing theory, not comparable, of a set) whose characteristic function is recursive (4)

    • Hyponyms

    * (of a function) primitive recursive

    Hypernyms

    * recursively enumerable

    Related terms

    * recursivity * recurrent * recurrence * recursion * recursive conundrum * co-recursive

    Derived terms

    * recursive acronym * tail recursive *

    See also

    * (wikipedia)

    precursive

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Preceding; introductory; precursory.
    • A deep precursive sound. — Coleridge.
    (Webster 1913)