recursion (noun) - the act of returning or referring back; when the definition of a concept or process depends on a simpler or previous version of itself [ri-kur-zhuhn]
BREAKDOWN: RE- (again) + CURS- (run) + -ION (act or state)
recursive means referring back to itself
See also: precursor
“To understand recursion, one must first understand recursion.” —Stephen Hawking