calculate
English edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
Verb edit
calculate (third-person singular simple present calculates, present participle calculating, simple past and past participle calculated)
- (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[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
- 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.
- to calculate or cast one's nativity
- 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
- A cunning man did calculate my birth.
- To adjust for purpose; to adapt by forethought or calculation; to fit or prepare by the adaptation of means to an end.
- to calculate a system of laws for the government and protection of a free people
- 1671, John Tillotson, “Sermon IV. The Advantages of Religion to Particular Persons. Psalm XIX. 11.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], 8th edition, London: […] T. Goodwin, B[enjamin] Tooke, and J. Pemberton, […]; J. Round […], and J[acob] Tonson] […], published 1720, →OCLC:
- [Religion] is […] calculated for our benefit.
- (chess) To imagine sequences of potential moves and responses without actually moving the pieces.
Conjugation edit
Conjugation of calculate
| infinitive | (to) calculate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| present tense | past tense | ||
| 1st-person singular | calculate | calculated | |
| 2nd-person singular | calculate, calculatest† | calculated, calculatedst† | |
| 3rd-person singular | calculates, calculateth† | calculated | |
| plural | calculate | ||
| subjunctive | calculate | calculated | |
| imperative | calculate | — | |
| participles | calculating | calculated | |
Synonyms edit
- (determine value of or solution to): compute, reckon (old), work out
- (determine values or solutions): compute, reckon (old)
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
(transitive) to determine the value or solution of sth.
|
(intransitive) to determine values or solutions
|
(intransitive) plan
|
Further reading edit
- “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 edit
Verb edit
calculāte
- second-person plural present active imperative of calculō
- "calculate ye, compute ye"
- (figuratively) "consider ye as, esteem ye"
Participle edit
calculāte
Spanish edit
Verb edit
calculate
- second-person singular voseo imperative of calcular combined with te