calculate

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled calc’lated

US /ˈkælkjʊleɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #10566

Meanings

1

verb
To work out an answer or amount using numbers.

Please calculate the total cost of the trip.
2

verb
To plan or design something carefully for a particular purpose.

His comments were calculated to upset her.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to work out an answer or... compute reckonwork out

2 verb · to plan or design something... aim

More ciphersupputatesuppute

Word family

Forms calculatedcalculatescalculating

Derived forms backcalculatecalculantcalculatablecalculatedcalculatingcalculativecalculatorymiscalculateoutcalculateovercalculateprecalculaterecalculate

Related forms calculation calculator calculus incalculable

Simplified etymology

Calculate comes from Latin calculare, “to count,” based on calculus, “small pebble.” Such pebbles were used as counters on an abacus, which explains the development from “pebble” to numerical reckoning.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin calculātus, perfect passive participle of calculō (“to reckon, compute, calculate”, originally by means of pebbles) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from calculus (“a pebble”), further from calx (“limestone”, calc- in compounds) + -ulus (forms diminutives).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# calculate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkælkjʊleɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 10566

## Meanings
1. To work out an answer or amount using numbers.
2. To plan or design something carefully for a particular purpose.

## Examples
- Please calculate the total cost of the trip.
- His comments were calculated to upset her.

## Synonyms
- cipher
- supputate
- suppute

## Derived Forms
- backcalculate
- calculant
- calculatable
- calculated
- calculating
- calculative
- calculatory
- miscalculate
- outcalculate
- overcalculate
- precalculate
- recalculate

## Related Forms
- calculation
- calculator
- calculus
- incalculable

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin calculātus, perfect passive participle of calculō (“to reckon, compute, calculate”, originally by means of pebbles) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from calculus (“a pebble”), further from calx (“limestone”, calc- in compounds) + -ulus (forms diminutives).

## AI Etymology
Calculate was borrowed from Latin calculātus, perfect passive participle of calculō (“to reckon, compute, calculate”, originally by means of pebbles) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from calculus (“a pebble”), further from calx (“limestone”, calc- in compounds) + -ulus (forms diminutives).

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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