guar

n : drought-tolerant herb grown for forage and for its seed

which yield a gum used as a thickening agent or sizing

material [syn: {cluster bean}, {Cyamopsis tetragonolobus},

{Cyamopsis psoraloides}]

guard

1. In {functional programming}, a {Boolean}

expression attached to a function definition specifying when

(for what arguments) that definition is appropriate.

2. In (parallel) {logic programming}, a Boolean expression

which is used to select a {clause} from several alternative

matching clauses.

See {Guarded Horn Clauses}.

3. In {parallel} languages, a {Boolean} expression which

specifies when an message may be sent or received.

(1995-05-09)