iterate

present singular third person iterates · participle present iterating · participle past iterated · past iterated

1. computingTo perform or repeat an action on each item in a set.

   The max() function iterates through the data to find the highest value.

   Synonyms: reiterate, reiterate, repeat, reprise

2. computingTo perform or repeat an action on the results of each such prior action.

   In mathematics, an iterated function is a function which is composed with itself, possibly ad infinitum, in a process called iteration.

3. archaictransitiveTo utter or do a second time or many times; to repeat.

   to iterate advice

   2 more examples

   Nor Eve to iterate / Her former trespass feared.

   1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   "Where's your money?" Jack exclaimed, hoarsely, in a well-feigned voice. "Ah! where's the rowdy?" iterated Clayton, in a tone it was impossible to conceal.

   1842, William Leman Rede, The Royal Rake: and the Adventures of Alfred Chesterton, page 25

4. ambitransitiveartsTo repeat an activity, making incremental changes each time.

   For NASA and most private aerospace companies, a single crash is a setback that can take years to recover from. SpaceX works more like a Silicon Valley startup, where the goal is to fail quickly and iterate.

   December 13 2021, Molly Ball, Jeffrey Kluger, Alejandro de la Garza, “Elon Musk: Person of the Year 2021”, in Time Magazine, archived from the original on 13 Dec 2021

plural iterates

1. mathematicsAn n-fold self-composition of a function.

   An important example of such a semigroup in infinite dimensional Hilbert space is the weak operator closed monothetic semigroup generated by a linear operator with equibounded iterates.

   2011, M. A. Kaashoek, T. T. West, Locally Compact Semi-Algebras, page 8

2. mathematicsThe image of a certain value under such a function.

   f²(x₀) is the second iterate of x₀ under f.

1. not comparableobsoleteSaid or done again; repeated.

   When our faith is otherwise well enough known, there needs no iterate confession, saith Baldwin, which if, as he saith, it be vain boasting rather than a Christian vertue in us to offer it, it can be no lesse than needlesse, imperious usurpation in them to call as to it.

   1657, William Morice, Coena quasi koinē

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:repeated

2. not comparableobsoleteIterated.

   1 more example

   Therfore I beseche you brethren doe not neglect this holsome & profitable sacrament, but diligently consyder what ayde and what grace is geuen vnto you in it, & if by your necgligence & fal ye haue lost that grace, for a great part: yet it may be recouered agayne, not by a newe Confirmation, which may not be iterate, but by your inward conuersion & faythfull penaunce, and after ye bee risen and haue recouered your strength agayne, than take better hede, and do not make heauye, nor dryue not a∣way the holy ghost from you, who flieth alwaies from fained ypocrisy & wil not dwel in that body that is subiect and seruaunt to synne

   1558, Thomas Watson, Sermon V, of the Sacrament of Confirmation, in Holsome and catholyke doctryne concerninge the seuen Sacramentes of Chrystes Church expedient to be knowen of all men, set forth in maner of shorte sermons to bee made to the people, page XXVIII