Algol

1. astronomyAn eclipsing binary star in the constellation of Perseus; Beta (β) Persei. It represents the eye of Medusa, whose head is being held by Perseus.

1. computer languagesAlternative letter-case form of ALGOL.

   He was the defiant homesteader, the crusty senior member of a research team who understood Algol and Fortran but couldn't read the secrets of his own heart.

   1972, Thomas M. Disch, 334

   1 more example

   Algol, on the other hand, introduced the notion of block structure, in which the programmer could group lists of statements, effectively creating one instruction out of a list of instructions.

   2004, Edward G. Nilges, Build Your Own .NET Language and Compiler, Apress, →ISBN, page 2

alternative Algol

1. computer languagesAn influential early high-level programming language designed for solving mathematical and scientific problems.

   Later, ALGOL was used as the basis of JOVIAL, MAD, NELIAC, and ALGO. In 1960, a division occurred based on unresolved disagreements and ALGOL 60 was born.

   2007, April J. Wells, Grid Application Systems Design, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 17

   Synonyms: IAL

2. A family of programming languages derived from ALGOL 58.