data mining

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

data mining
    n 1: data processing using sophisticated data search
         capabilities and statistical algorithms to discover
         patterns and correlations in large preexisting databases; a
         way to discover new meaning in data

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

data mining

   <database> Analysis of data in a {database} using tools which
   look for trends or anomalies without knowledge of the meaning
   of the data.  Data mining was invented by {IBM} who hold some
   related patents.

   Data mining may well be done on a {data warehouse}.

   ShowCase STRATEGY (http://showcasecorp.com/) is an
   example of a data mining tool.

   (2001-02-08)