reduction
(Or "contraction") The process of transforming an expression
according to certain reduction rules. The most important
forms are {beta reduction} (application of a {lambda
abstraction} to one or more argument expressions) and {delta
reduction} (application of a mathematical function to the
required number of arguments).
An {evaluation strategy} (or {reduction strategy}), determines
which part of an expression (which redex) to reduce first.
There are many such strategies.
See {graph reduction}, {string reduction}, {normal order
reduction}, {applicative order reduction}, {parallel
reduction}, {alpha conversion}, {beta conversion}, {delta
conversion}, {eta conversion}.
(1995-02-21)