Ngokusho kwe-Oxford English Dictionary, isihlaziyi esihlukanisayo "siyidivayisi yokwenza ikhompuyutha engumshini ehlanganisa isistimu yamashafu ajikelezayo namagiya, asetshenziselwa ukuxazulula izibalo ezihlukile." Lo mshini wasungulwa ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20 futhi wasetshenziselwa izibalo eziyinkimbinkimbi ngaphambi kokufika kwamakhompyutha anamuhla. Ukuhlaziya umehluko bekuyithuluzi elibalulekile lonjiniyela nososayensi emikhakheni efana nefiziksi, isayensi yezinkanyezi, kanye nobunjiniyela.