math

A1 Topic:Mathematics & Measurement

US /mæθ/ UK /mæθ/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like mass /θ/ vs /s/ Sounds like mat /θ/ vs /t/

Freq #3547

Meanings

1

noun
The study of numbers, shapes, and quantities; mathematics.

She is very good at math.
2

noun
Calculations done with numbers.

If you do the math, you'll see it's not such a bargain.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the study of numbers,... mathematicsmaths

Word family

Forms maths

Derived forms mathbabblemathcoremathleticmathleticsmathmlmathspeakmathwisemathymeadernonmath

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

math teacher
a teacher who teaches mathematics

Noun + noun

Etymology

From Middle English math, from Old English mǣþ (“a mowing, that which is mown, cutting of grass”), from Proto-Germanic *mēþą (“a mowing”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂meh₁- (“to mow”); equivalent to mow + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with German Mahd (“a mowing, reaping”), West Frisian mêd (“area of land that can be mown in one day; domain, realm”). Related also to Old English mǣd (“mead, meadow, pasture”). See meadow.

*h₂meh₁- Proto-Indo-European math Middle English mǣþ Old English *mēþą Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Mathematics & Measurement

External links

# math

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /mæθ/
**IPA (UK):** /mæθ/
**Frequency rank:** 3547

## Meanings
1. The study of numbers, shapes, and quantities; mathematics.
2. Calculations done with numbers.

## Examples
- She is very good at math.
- If you do the math, you'll see it's not such a bargain.

## Derived Forms
- mathbabble
- mathcore
- mathletic
- mathletics
- mathml
- mathspeak
- mathwise
- mathy
- meader
- nonmath

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂meh₁-
- Root: math
- Root: mǣþ
- Root: *mēþą

## Etymology
From Middle English math, from Old English mǣþ (“a mowing, that which is mown, cutting of grass”), from Proto-Germanic *mēþą (“a mowing”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂meh₁- (“to mow”); equivalent to mow + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with German Mahd (“a mowing, reaping”), West Frisian mêd (“area of land that can be mown in one day; domain, realm”). Related also to Old English mǣd (“mead, meadow, pasture”). See meadow.

## AI Etymology
Math comes from Middle English math, from Old English mǣþ (“a mowing, that which is mown, cutting of grass”), from Proto-Germanic *mēþą (“a mowing”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂meh₁- (“to mow”); equivalent to mow + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with German Mahd (“a mowing, reaping”), West Frisian mêd (“area of land that can be mown in one day; domain, realm”). Related also to Old English mǣd (“mead, meadow, pasture”). In present-day English its meanings include the study of numbers, shapes, and quantities; mathematics and calculations done with numbers. The historical chain runs through *h₂meh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), math (Middle English), mǣþ (Old English), and *mēþą (Proto-Germanic).

## Topics
- Mathematics & Measurement

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