brute force

See also: brute-force

English

Alternative forms

• brute-force

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /bɹut ˈfɔɹs/

Noun

brute force (uncountable)

1. A method of accomplishing something primarily by means of strength, without the use of great skill, mechanical aids or thought.

   We lifted the car by brute force.

   • 2009, David Walliams, Mr Stink:

     Chloe pulled the leaflet out of Annabelle’s hand. There were some advantages to being the older sister; sometimes you could use brute force.

2. (computer science) A method of computation wherein the computer is let to try all permutations of a problem until one is found that provides a solution, in contrast to the implementation of a more intelligent algorithm.

Usage notes

• Not used with an article. We say brute force and it is incorrect to say a brute force or the brute force. That is because it is a mass noun, not a count noun.

Translations

method of accomplishing something

• Finnish: raaka voima
• French: manière forte f
• Japanese: 馬鹿力 (ja) (bakajikara)
• Russian: гру́бая си́ла f (grúbaja síla)
• Spanish: fuerza bruta (es) f

computing: method of solving a problem

• Esperanto: burtforta metodo
• Finnish: raaka voima; väsytyshyökkäys (brute-force attack)
• French: force brute (fr) f
• Japanese: 総当たり (そうあたり, sōatari)
• Russian: по́лный перебо́р m (pólnyj perebór)
• Spanish: fuerza bruta (es) f
• Swedish: råstyrka c

See also

• brute strength
• Military incompetence

Verb

brute force (third-person singular simple present brute forces, present participle brute forcing, simple past and past participle brute forced)

1. (transitive) To solve (a computational problem) by brute force.
   • 1960, Scott Cameron, Marshall Clinton Yovits, Self-organizing Systems: Proceedings - Page 187‎^[1]:

     "In trying to solve the problem in this simplified space, it does different things than it did when it was brute forcing its way through the original space."

2. (computing) To break a password, encryption, or any other protection mechanism by brute force.

See also

• shotgun approach

See also

• brute de forge

Further reading

• brute-force search on Wikipedia.Wikipedia