calculate
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin calculātus, perfect passive participle of calculō (“I reckon, originally by means of pebbles”), from calculus (“a pebble”). Refer to calculus for origin.
Pronunciation
Verb
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- (transitive, mathematics) To determine the value of something or the solution to something by a mathematical process.
- Calculate the square root of 3 to 10 decimal places.
- (intransitive, mathematics) To determine values or solutions by a mathematical process; reckon.
- (intransitive, US, dialect) To plan; to expect; to think.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
- I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for. It twisted and turned, and, the first thing I knew, made a sudden bend around a bunch of bayberry scrub and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn.
- To ascertain or predict by mathematical or astrological computations the time, circumstances, or other conditions of; to forecast or compute the character or consequences of.
- (Can we date this quote by William Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- A cunning man did calculate my birth.
- to calculate or cast one's nativity
- (Can we date this quote by William Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- To adjust for purpose; to adapt by forethought or calculation; to fit or prepare by the adaptation of means to an end.
- (Can we date this quote by Archbishop Tillotson and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- [Religion] is […] calculated for our benefit.
- to calculate a system of laws for the government and protection of a free people
- (Can we date this quote by Archbishop Tillotson and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
Synonyms
- (determine value of or solution to): compute, reckon (old), work out
- (determine values or solutions): compute, reckon (old)
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
(transitive) to determine the value or solution of sth.
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(intransitive) to determine values or solutions
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(intransitive) plan
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Further reading
- “calculate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “calculate”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “calculate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Latin
Verb
(deprecated template usage) calculāte
- second-person plural present active imperative of calculō
- "calculate ye, compute ye"
- (figuratively) "consider ye as, esteem ye"
Participle
(deprecated template usage) calculāte
Categories:
- English terms borrowed from Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English transitive verbs
- en:Mathematics
- English terms with usage examples
- English intransitive verbs
- American English
- English dialectal terms
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- Requests for date/William Shakespeare
- Requests for date/Archbishop Tillotson
- Latin non-lemma forms
- Latin verb forms
- Latin participle forms