beta abstraction

[lambda-calculus] The conversion of an expression to an application of a lambda abstraction to an argument expression. Some subterm of the original expression becomes the argument of the abstraction and the rest becomes its body. E.g.

4+1 --> (\ x . x+1) 4

The opposite of beta abstraction is beta reduction. These are the two kinds of beta conversion.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

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