precedence lossage /pre's*-dens los'*j/ n.
[C programmers] Coding error in an expression due to unexpected grouping of arithmetic or logical operators by the compiler. Used esp. of certain common coding errors in C due to the nonintuitively low precedence levels of &, |, ^, <<, and >> (for this reason, experienced C programmers deliberately forget the language's [baroque] precedence hierarchy and parenthesize defensively). Can always be avoided by suitable use of parentheses. [LISP] fans enjoy pointing out that this can't happen in their favorite language, which eschews precedence entirely, requiring one to use explicit parentheses everywhere. See [aliasing bug], [memory leak], [memory smash], [smash the stack], [fandango on core], [overrun screw].
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