calculate

(kăl'kyə-lāt')

v., -lat·ed, -lat·ing, -lates.

v.tr.

1. To ascertain by computation; reckon: calculating the area of a circle; calculated their probable time of arrival.
2. To make an estimate of; evaluate: calculating the team's chances of winning.
3. To make for a deliberate purpose; design: a sturdy car that is calculated to last for years; a choice that was calculated to please.
4. also cal'late (kăl'āt', -lāt') Chiefly New England.
   1. To suppose: "I cal'late she's a right smart cook" (Dialect Notes).
   2. To plan, intend, or count on.

v.intr.

1. To perform a mathematical process; figure: We must measure and calculate to determine how much paint will be needed.
2. To predict consequences.
3. Regional.
   1. To suppose; guess.
   2. To count, depend, or rely on someone or something: We're calculating on your help.

[Late Latin calculāre, calculāt-, from Latin calculus, small stone used in reckoning, diminutive of calx, calc-, small stone for gaming. See calx.]

calculative cal'cu·la'tive (-lā'tĭv, -lə-tĭv) adj.

SYNONYMS   calculate, compute, reckon, cipher, figure. These verbs refer to the use of mathematical methods to determine a result. Calculate, the most comprehensive, often implies a relatively high level of abstraction or procedural complexity: The astronomer calculated the planet's position. Compute applies to possibly lengthy arithmetic operations: computing fees according to time spent. Reckon, cipher, and figure suggest the use of simple arithmetic: reckoned the number of hours before her departure; had to be taught to read and to cipher; trying to figure my share of the bill.

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1. The meaning 'to suppose or reckon', without any reference to working something out, is regional American in origin (19th century, eg. I calculate it's pretty difficult to git edication down at Charleston) and is not standard in any variety of English. None the less it does occur:

Many executives...calculate that their best interests lie in not conforming to factory regulations—S. Box, 1992.

See also reckon.

2. The corresponding adjective is calculable.

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verb

1. To ascertain by mathematics: cast, cipher, compute, figure, reckon. See reason/unreason.
2. To make a judgment as to the worth or value of: appraise, assay, assess, estimate, evaluate, gauge, judge, rate, size up, valuate, value. Idioms: take the measure of. See value/worthlessness/evaluation.

To use numerical techniques to find the answer to mathematical problems by formal rules, such as those of arithmetic. The word is derived from the Latin calculus, meaning small stone, referring to the ancient, and indeed prehistoric, use of pebbles for counting, later formalized in the abacus. The first gearwheel calculating machine was built by Blaise Pascal in the year of Isaac Newton's birth, 1642. It is odd that this and many later demonstrations of the calculations of 'mental arithmetic' being undertaken by machine did not, at once and generally, suggest that human thinking may be carried out by physical brain processes and may be largely or completely unconscious.

(Published 1987)

— Richard L. Gregory

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IN BRIEF: To find out by using mathematical operations.

The class will work hard to calculate the correct answer to the problem.

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For a list of words related to calculate, see:

• Reasoning and Examination - calculate: consider logically and dispassionately

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See words rhyming with "calculate."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Calculate.

Common misspelling(s) of calculate

• caluclate
• caluculate
• calulate

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - beregne, gå ud fra, tro, have til hensigt
v. intr. - beregne, antage, formode

Nederlands (Dutch)
(be)rekenen, uitrekenen, (in)schatten, beramen

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Math) calculer, évaluer, estimer, faire (qch) délibérément ou avec préméditation, (US) croire que, supposer que
v. intr. - (US) compter sur qch, compter faire qch

Deutsch (German)
v. - berechnen, ausrechnen, (ugs.) meinen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - υπολογίζω, λογαριάζω, εκτιμώ, σταθμίζω

Italiano (Italian)
calcolare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - calcular, prever

Русский (Russian)
вычислять

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - calcular, suponer, contar
v. intr. - hacer cálculos, hacer suposiciones, hacer conteos

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - beräkna, räkna med, tro

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
计算, 预测, 估计, 推测, 以为, 认为, 作打算

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 計算, 預測, 估計, 推測
v. intr. - 計算, 以為, 認為, 作打算

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 계산하다, 적합하게 하다, 추정하다
v. intr. - 계산하다, 예측하여 준비하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 計算する, 算定する, 計画する, あらかじめ考慮する, 思う, 解釈する, 予測する, あてにする, 評価する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يحسب رياضيا, يظن أو يعتقد‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮חישב, העריך, האמין, שיער, תכנן‬
v. intr. - ‮העריך, האמין, שיער‬

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