pathological
adj. of pathology, of the study of diseases; sickly, ill | ||||
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Pathological definition was found in categories: Computer & Internet(2) Language, Idioms & Slang(3) Medicine(1) Encyclopedia(1)
Pathological Definition from Computer & Internet Dictionaries & Glossaries
| FOLDOC |
pathological
1. [scientific computation] Used of a data set that is grossly atypical of normal expected input, especially one that exposes a weakness or bug in whatever algorithm one is using. An algorithm that can be broken by pathological inputs may still be useful if such inputs are very unlikely to occur in practice.
2. When used of test input, implies that it was purposefully engineered as a worst case. The implication in both senses is that the data is spectacularly ill-conditioned or that someone had to explicitly set out to break the algorithm in order to come up with such a crazy example.
3. Also said of an unlikely collection of circumstances. "If the network is down and comes up halfway through the execution of that command by root, the system may just crash." "Yes, but that's a pathological case." Often used to dismiss the case from discussion, with the implication that the consequences are acceptable, since they will happen so infrequently (if at all) that it doesn't seem worth going to the extra trouble to handle that case (see sense 1).
[Jargon File]
1. [scientific computation] Used of a data set that is grossly atypical of normal expected input, especially one that exposes a weakness or bug in whatever algorithm one is using. An algorithm that can be broken by pathological inputs may still be useful if such inputs are very unlikely to occur in practice.
2. When used of test input, implies that it was purposefully engineered as a worst case. The implication in both senses is that the data is spectacularly ill-conditioned or that someone had to explicitly set out to break the algorithm in order to come up with such a crazy example.
3. Also said of an unlikely collection of circumstances. "If the network is down and comes up halfway through the execution of that command by root, the system may just crash." "Yes, but that's a pathological case." Often used to dismiss the case from discussion, with the implication that the consequences are acceptable, since they will happen so infrequently (if at all) that it doesn't seem worth going to the extra trouble to handle that case (see sense 1).
[Jargon File]
| Jargon File |
pathological
adj. 1. [scientific computation] Used of a data set that is grossly atypical of normal expected input, esp. one that exposes a weakness or bug in whatever algorithm one is using. An algorithm that can be broken by pathological inputs may still be useful if such inputs are very unlikely to occur in practice. 2. When used of test input, implies that it was purposefully engineered as a worst case. The implication in both senses is that the data is spectacularly ill-conditioned or that someone had to explicitly set out to break the algorithm in order to come up with such a crazy example. 3. Also said of an unlikely collection of circumstances. "If the network is down and comes up halfway through the execution of that command by root, the system may just crash." "Yes, but that's a pathological case." Often used to dismiss the case from discussion, with the implication that the consequences are acceptable, since they will happen so infrequently (if at all) that it doesn't seem worth going to the extra trouble to handle that case (see sense 1).
adj. 1. [scientific computation] Used of a data set that is grossly atypical of normal expected input, esp. one that exposes a weakness or bug in whatever algorithm one is using. An algorithm that can be broken by pathological inputs may still be useful if such inputs are very unlikely to occur in practice. 2. When used of test input, implies that it was purposefully engineered as a worst case. The implication in both senses is that the data is spectacularly ill-conditioned or that someone had to explicitly set out to break the algorithm in order to come up with such a crazy example. 3. Also said of an unlikely collection of circumstances. "If the network is down and comes up halfway through the execution of that command by root, the system may just crash." "Yes, but that's a pathological case." Often used to dismiss the case from discussion, with the implication that the consequences are acceptable, since they will happen so infrequently (if at all) that it doesn't seem worth going to the extra trouble to handle that case (see sense 1).
Pathological Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |
Pathological
(a.)
Of or pertaining to pathology.
(a.)
Of or pertaining to pathology.
| WordNet 2.0 |
pathological
Adjective
1. of or relating to the practice of pathology; "pathological laboratory"
(synonym) pathologic
(pertainym) pathology
2. caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition; "a pathological liar"; "a pathological urge to succeed"
(similar) neurotic, psychoneurotic
3. caused by or altered by or manifesting disease or pathology; "diseased tonsils"; "a morbid growth"; "pathologic tissue"; "pathological bodily processes"
(synonym) diseased, morbid, pathologic
(similar) unhealthy
Adjective
1. of or relating to the practice of pathology; "pathological laboratory"
(synonym) pathologic
(pertainym) pathology
2. caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition; "a pathological liar"; "a pathological urge to succeed"
(similar) neurotic, psychoneurotic
3. caused by or altered by or manifesting disease or pathology; "diseased tonsils"; "a morbid growth"; "pathologic tissue"; "pathological bodily processes"
(synonym) diseased, morbid, pathologic
(similar) unhealthy
| Concise English-Irish Dictionary v. 1.1 |
pathological
paiteolaíoch
paiteolaíoch
Pathological Definition from Medicine Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Hepatitis Central (TM) Liver Disease Medical Glossary |
Pathological
Disease study related
Disease study related
Pathological Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
Pathology (disambiguation)
The term pathology most often refers to the study of disease: its causes, processes, development, consequences, and anatomic and functional manifestations. A field of medicine specialising in the categorization of medical diseases (as studied in the laboratory) is called Pathology. Physicians who specialise in medical laboratory pathology are called Pathologists.
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