alpha conversion

noun

One of the three rewrite rules of lambda calculus, in which a bound variable of a lambda term is replaced by another variable across its entire scope. So if there is a lambda term of the form (λx.t) and it is desired to have x replaced with y, then the rewritten lambda term would have the form (λy.t[y/x]) where t[y/x], "t with y instead of x", has had all free instances of x in t replaced with y.

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Meanings

nounalpha conversion (countable and uncountable, plural alpha conversions)

plural alpha conversions

  1. countableuncountablecomputingOne of the three rewrite rules of lambda calculus, in which a bound variable of a lambda term is replaced by another variable across its entire scope. So if there is a lambda term of the form (λx.t) and it is desired to have x replaced with y, then the rewritten lambda term would have the form (λy.t[y/x]) where t[y/x], "t with y instead of x", has had all free instances of x in t replaced with y.
Cite this entry
APA

alpha conversion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alpha%20conversion

MLA

“alpha conversion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alpha%20conversion. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “alpha conversion,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alpha%20conversion.

Source: alpha conversion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.