oracle machine

noun

In computability theory, a form of theoretical Turing machine, able to solve even undecidable decision problems in a single operation.

“See also: o-machine”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounoracle machine (plural oracle machines)

plural oracle machines

  1. computingIn computability theory, a form of theoretical Turing machine, able to solve even undecidable decision problems in a single operation.

    See also: o-machine

    1 more example

    Thus, an oracle machine (which enacts an oracle algorithm) would be like an ordinary Turing machine, except that adjoined to its ordinary computational operations would be another operation: ‘Call in the oracle and ask it whether C_q(n) stops; […]

    1994, Roger Penrose, “Quantum theory and the brain”, in Shadows of the Mind, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 380

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 預言機 /预言机
  • 預言機 /预言机 (yùyánjī)theoretical machine
Finnish oraakkelikone
  • oraakkelikonetheoretical machine
Cite this entry
APA

oracle machine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oracle%20machine

MLA

“oracle machine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oracle%20machine. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oracle machine,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oracle%20machine.

Source: oracle machine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.