ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Gensym', Synonyms of 'Gensym' & More on 'Gensym'

1. The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003)

gensym
 /jen'sim/

    [from MacLISP for generated symbol]

    1. v. To invent a new name for something temporary, in such a way that the
    name is almost certainly not in conflict with one already in use.

    2. n. The resulting name. The canonical form of a gensym is ?Gnnnn? where
    nnnn represents a number; any LISP hacker would recognize G0093 (for
    example) as a gensym.

    3. A freshly generated data structure with a gensymmed name. Gensymmed
    names are useful for storing or uniquely identifying crufties (see cruft
    ).

2. The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018)

gensym

    /jen'sim/ (From the MacLISP for "generated
   symbol") To invent a new name for something temporary, in
   such a way that the name is almost certainly not in conflict
   with one already in use.

   The canonical form of a gensym is "Gnnnn" where nnnn
   represents a number; any LISP hacker would recognise G0093
   (for example) as a gensym.  Gensymmed names are useful for
   storing or uniquely identifying crufties.

   [Jargon File]

   (1999-10-31)

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