àbac

See also: abac and ABAC

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin abacus, abax; from Ancient Greek ἄβαξ (ábax, “board or slab”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [ˈa.βək]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [ˈa.bək]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈa.bak]

Noun

àbac m (plural àbacs)

1. An abacus. (calculating frame with beads constrained to rows by grooves or wires)
2. (archaic) In the Middle Ages, a mathematics textbook.
3. A mathematical table.
4. (billiards) score string
5. An abacus. (sand tray used for drawing or calculating)
6. (architecture) An abacus. (uppermost prismatic member of a column)
7. (games) A checkerboard or a chessboard.
8. (furniture, archaic) An abacus. (compartmented tray or table used to store valuables)
9. (furniture, modern) More generally, now used for any table.
10. A sluice, especially one used for mining.
11. (construction) An abacus. (plates of stone or metal used to cover a surface)

Synonyms

• (any piece of furniture used as a table): taula, tauler
• (sluice): obi

Derived terms

• àbac màgic
• àbac neperià

Further reading

• “àbac” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.