number-crunching n.
[common] Computations of a numerical nature, esp. those that
make extensive use of floating-point numbers. The only thing
Fortrash is good for. This term is
in widespread informal use outside hackerdom and even in
mainstream slang, but has additional hackish connotations:
namely, that the computations are mindless and involve massive
use of brute force. This is
not always evil, esp. if it involves
ray tracing or fractals or some other use that makes pretty pictures, esp. if such
pictures can be used as wallpaper. See also crunch.