quicksort

quicksort

English

The quicksort algorithm sorting the array {6, 5, 3, 1, 8, 7, 4}.

Etymology

Quick +‎ sort, from its computational efficiency.

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: kwĭkʹsôrt', IPA^(key): /ˈkwɪkˌsɔɹt/
• Hyphenation: quick‧sort

Noun

quicksort (plural quicksorts)

1. (computing) A sorting algorithm that operates by recursively partitioning the items to be sorted into two sets.
   • 1987, Åke Wikström, Functional Programming Using Standard ML

     Somewhat surprisingly, the average behaviour of quicksort is the same as the best behaviour.

Verb

quicksort (third-person singular simple present quicksorts, present participle quicksorting, simple past and past participle quicksorted)

1. (transitive, computing) To sort with such an algorithm.
   • 1991, Maguire et al, Geographical Information Systems: Principles and Applications

     The first and last subsets are then recursively quicksorted.