LISP
Parentheses-heavy programming language
LISP is a programming language developed in the late 1950s, one of the oldest still in use.
The name stands for "list processing," reflecting its design around linked lists as a core data structure.
LISP pioneered concepts central to modern programming: recursion, garbage collection, and treating code as data.
It became the dominant language for artificial intelligence research and remains influential, with dialects like Common Lisp and Scheme still actively used. (Lowercase lisp is a speech impediment.)
Curved enclosing punctuation marks
- nestingMaking a dwelling
- atomsSmallest elemental units
- symbolsMarks conveying meaning
- listsOrdered item collections
car · cons · quote · eval · read · print · balanced · delimiters
Regional language variety
- interpreterOne who conveys meaning between languages
- compilerSource-to-machine-code translator
- metaprogrammingCode that generates code
- macrosAutomated command sequences
McCarthy · MIT · interactive · extensible
Eleventh Greek letter
- recursionProcess invoking itself
- closuresActs of sealing shut
- mapSpatial representation of terrain
- reduceMake smaller in degree
filter · immutability · continuation · apply · let · composition
Fricative with hiss quality
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- articulationClear vocal expression
- frontalOf the fore side
parentheses
Curved enclosing punctuation marks
lists · car · cons · quote · eval · read · print · balanced · delimiters
dialect
Regional language variety
- interpreterOne who conveys meaning between languages
- compilerSource-to-machine-code translator
- metaprogrammingCode that generates code
macros · McCarthy · MIT · interactive · extensible
lambda
Eleventh Greek letter
reduce · filter · immutability · continuation · apply · let · composition
sibilant
Fricative with hiss quality
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- articulationClear vocal expression
frontal · interdental · therapy · fricative
unquote
Verbal closing quotation mark
- backquoteLeftward-slanting tick mark
LISPmachine code
CPU-executable binary instructions
C · COBOL · binary code · C++ · Java