Lin-Kernighan heuristic

proper noun

In combinatorial optimization, a heuristic for solving the symmetric travelling salesman problem, involving the swapping of pairs of subtours to make a new tour.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Lin-Kernighan heuristic
  1. computerIn combinatorial optimization, a heuristic for solving the symmetric travelling salesman problem, involving the swapping of pairs of subtours to make a new tour.

Origin

Devised by Shen Lin and Brian Kernighan.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Lin-Kernighan heuristic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lin-Kernighan%20heuristic

MLA

“Lin-Kernighan heuristic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lin-Kernighan%20heuristic. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Lin-Kernighan heuristic,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Lin-Kernighan%20heuristic.

Source: Lin-Kernighan heuristic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.