intractable
English
Adjective
intractable (comparative more intractable, superlative most intractable)
- Not tractable; not able to be managed, controlled, governed or directed.
- 1972, Edsger W. Dijkstra, The Humble Programmer (EWD340):
- And I cannot but expect that this will repeatedly lead to the discovery that an initially intractable problem can be factored after all.
- (mathematics) (of a mathematical problem) Not able to be solved in polynomial time; too difficult to attempt to solve.
- Difficult to deal with, solve, or manage. (of a problem)
- Stubborn; obstinate. (of a person)
- (medicine) Difficult to treat (of a medical condition).
Derived terms
Translations
not tractable
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mathematics: not able to be solved in polynomial time; too difficult to attempt to solve
of a problem: difficult to deal with, solve, or manage
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medicine: difficult to treat
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References
- “intractable”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “intractable”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Catalan
Pronunciation
Adjective
intractable m or f (masculine and feminine plural intractables)
- intractable
- Antonym: tractable
Further reading
- “intractable” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
- “intractable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
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