Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Algorism \Al"go*rism\, Algorithm \Al"go*rithm\, n. [OE.
   algorism, algrim, augrim, OF. algorisme, F. algorithme (cf.
   Sp. algoritmo, OSp. alguarismo, LL. algorismus), fr. the Ar.
   al-Khow[=a]rezm[=i] of Khow[=a]rezm, the modern Khiwa,
   surname of Abu Ja'far Mohammed ben Mus[=a], author of a work
   on arithmetic early in the 9th century, which was translated
   into Latin, such books bearing the name algorismus. The
   spelling with th is due to a supposed connection with Gr. ?
   number.]
   1. The art of calculating by nine figures and zero.

   2. The art of calculating with any species of notation; as,
      the algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc.

Source : WordNet®

algorithm
     n : a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve
         some problem [syn: {algorithmic rule}, {algorithmic
         program}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

algorithm
     
         A detailed sequence of actions to
        perform to accomplish some task.  Named after an Iranian
        mathematician, Al-Khawarizmi.
     
        Technically, an algorithm must reach a result after a {finite}
        number of steps, thus ruling out {brute force} search methods
        for certain problems, though some might claim that brute force
        search was also a valid (generic) algorithm.  The term is also
        used loosely for any sequence of actions (which may or may not
        terminate).
     
        {Paul E. Black's Dictionary of Algorithms, Data Structures,
        and Problems (http://www.nist.gov/dads/)}.
     
        (2002-02-05)