predicate calculus

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

predicate calculus
    n 1: a system of symbolic logic that represents individuals and
         predicates and quantification over individuals (as well as
         the relations between propositions) [syn: {predicate
         calculus}, {functional calculus}]

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

predicate logic
predicate calculus

   <logic> (Or "predicate calculus") An extension of
   {propositional logic} with separate symbols for {predicates},
   {subjects}, and {quantifiers}.

   For example, where propositional logic might assign a single
   symbol P to the proposition "All men are mortal", predicate
   logic can define the predicate M(x) which asserts that the
   subject, x, is mortal and bind x with the {universal
   quantifier} ("For all"):

   	All x . M(x)

   Higher-order predicate logic allows predicates to be the
   subjects of other predicates.

   (2002-05-21)