Definition of "backtracking" in English

noun

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of one who, or that which, backtracks; a retracing of one's steps.

2. (aviation) The usage of a runway as a taxiway, especially at private strips and smaller airports.

3. (computer science) The act of building all possible solutions to a problem incrementally, abandoning any candidate solution if it cannot lead to a valid solution.

   • backtracking algorithm

verb

1. present participle and gerund of backtrack