Each entry in this glossary has the following parts:

• the term being defined, set in boldface.

• optional pronunciation, enclosed in square brackets and set in boldface, as in the following example: ['a,list]. The pronunciation key follows Webster's Third New International Dictionary the English Language, Unabridged, except that ``uh'' is used to notate the schwa (upside-down ``e'') character, ``ee'' is used to denote a hard ``e'' (an ``e'' with an overbar), ``oh'' is used to denote a hard ``o'' (an ``o'' with an overbar), and ``ay'' is used to denote a hard ``a'' (an ``a'' with an overbar)..

• the part or parts of speech, set in italics. If a term can be used as several parts of speech, there is a separate definition for each part of speech.

• one or more definitions, organized as follows:

  • an optional number, present if there are several definitions. Lowercase letters might also be used in cases where subdefinitions of a numbered definition are necessary.

  • an optional part of speech, set in italics, present if the term is one of several parts of speech.

  • an optional discipline, set in italics, present if the term has a standard definition being repeated. For example, ``Math.''

  • an optional context, present if this definition is meaningful only in that context. For example, ``(of a symbol)''.

  • the definition.

  • an optional example sentence. For example, ``This is an example of an example.''

  • optional cross references.

In addition, some terms have idiomatic usage in the Common Lisp community which is not shared by other communities, or which is not technically correct. Definitions labeled ``Idiom.'' represent such idiomatic usage; these definitions are sometimes followed by an explanatory note.

Words in this font are words with entries in the glossary. Words in example sentences do not follow this convention.

When an ambiguity arises, the longest matching substring has precedence. For example, ``complex float'' refers to a single glossary entry for ``complex float'' rather than the combined meaning of the glossary terms ``complex'' and ``float.''

Subscript notation, as in ``something[n]'' means that the nth definition of ``something'' is intended. This notation is used only in situations where the context might be insufficient to disambiguate.

The following are abbreviations used in the glossary:

Abbreviation  Meaning                                     
adj.          adjective                                   
adv.          adverb                                      
ANSI          compatible with one or more ANSI standards  
Comp.         computers                                   
Idiom.        idiomatic                                   
IEEE          compatible with one or more IEEE standards  
ISO           compatible with one or more ISO standards   
Math.         mathematics                                 
Trad.         traditional                                 
n.            noun                                        
v.            verb                                        
v.t.          transitive verb