at random


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Related to at random: random number generator

ran·dom

 (răn′dəm)
adj.
1. Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective: random movements. See Synonyms at chance.
2. Mathematics & Statistics Of or relating to a type of circumstance or event that is described by a probability distribution.
3. Of or relating to an event in which all outcomes are equally likely, as in the testing of a blood sample for the presence of a substance.
Idiom:
at random
Without a governing design, method, or purpose; unsystematically: chose a card at random from the deck.

[From at random, by chance, at great speed, from Middle English randon, random, speed, violence, surge, from Old French randon, from randir, to run, probably from Frankish *rand, border, margin (as of a field, used as a racecourse); akin to German Rand, edge.]

ran′dom·ly adv.
ran′dom·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adv.1.at random - in a random mannerat random - in a random manner; "the houses were randomly scattered"; "bullets were fired into the crowd at random"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
عَشْوائِيّا
namátkou
satunnaisestiumpimähkään
találomra
af handahófi
naslepo

random

(ˈrӕndəm) adjective
done etc without any particular plan or system; irregular. The opinion poll was based on a random sample of adults.
ˈrandomly adverb
at random
without any particular plan or system. The police were stopping cars at random and checking their brakes; Choose a number at random.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
On his back he wears a spotted lynx-pelt, and he delights in high-pitched songs in a soft meadow where crocuses and sweet-smelling hyacinths bloom at random in the grass.
So I presently hurled a shoe at random, and with a vicious vigor.
She was splendid and robust, and had never appeared handsomer than in the old blue gown, with a red silk handkerchief knotted at random around her head to protect her hair from the dust.
It was Denneker's "Meditations." He opened it at random and began to read: