permute: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “permute” mean?
To change the order or arrangement of a set of items.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To change the order or arrangement of a set of items.
To subject to permutation; to reorder the sequence of elements in a mathematical set or list, often in combinatorics and computer science.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Both use the term primarily in technical contexts.
Connotations
Identical technical/mathematical connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse in both varieties. Equally rare and confined to technical registers.
Grammar
How to Use “permute” in a Sentence
NP permute NP (e.g., The algorithm permutes the array.)NP be permuted (e.g., The data was permuted.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “permute” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The cryptographer will permute the bits of the message for added security.
- You can permute the letters of 'star' to form 'rats' and 'arts'.
American English
- The statistician permuted the treatment labels to create a null distribution.
- This algorithm permutes the rows of the matrix efficiently.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form from 'permute'. 'Permutably' is non-standard/rare.
American English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form from 'permute'. 'Permutably' is non-standard/rare.
adjective
British English
- The permutable nature of the list allows for many combinations.
- N/A - 'permutable' is the adjectival form, not 'permute'.
American English
- The data set is not permutable due to its time-series structure.
- N/A - 'permutable' is the adjectival form, not 'permute'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in data analysis contexts: 'We need to permute the variables to test different models.'
Academic
Common in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and cryptography: 'The test statistic is calculated after we permute the group labels 10,000 times.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Rearrange' or 'mix up' are used instead.
Technical
The primary domain. Refers to generating all possible ordered arrangements from a collection: 'The function will permute the input string.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “permute”
- Using 'permute' to mean 'change' in a general sense (e.g., 'I permuted my mind' is wrong).
- Confusing 'permute' with 'compute'.
- Using it in non-technical, everyday contexts where 'rearrange' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Permute' refers to changing the order/arrangement of all items in a set. 'Combine' refers to selecting items from a set, often without regard to order. In permutations, ABC is different from BAC. In combinations, they may be considered the same group.
It is highly unusual and would sound overly technical. Use 'rearrange', 'switch around', or 'mix up' instead for general communication.
The main noun form is 'permutation'. Example: 'There are 120 permutations of a 5-letter word.'
Not necessarily. The verb means 'to change the order'. The act of permuting might produce one new order or (especially in technical contexts) may refer to generating multiple or all possible orders. Context clarifies the scope.
To change the order or arrangement of a set of items.
Permute is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Permute: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈmjuːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /pərˈmjuːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'PERM' in a hairstyle - you change the order of your hair's structure. PERMute is to change the order of things.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORDER IS A SEQUENCE; CHANGING ORDER IS RE-ARRANGING A PATH.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'permute' most appropriately used?