Calculating

/ˈkælkjʊleɪtɪŋ/

verbBeginner📊CommonAction
2 meanings2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To perform a mathematical operation to find a numerical answer.

/ˈkælkjʊleɪtɪŋ/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

Determining a mathematical result.

She calculated the total cost.

💡 Simply: To work out a number answer.

More Examples

2

He is calculating the trajectory of the rocket.

How It's Used

Mathematics

"He was calculating the area of the circle."

Finance

"The accountant is calculating the company's profits."

2

Prudent, shrewd, and often manipulative in pursuit of one's own interests.

/ˈkælkjʊleɪtɪŋ/

adjectivenegativeIntermediate
Personality

Prudent, shrewd, and manipulative.

He had a calculating smile.

💡 Simply: Selfish and scheming.

More Examples

2

She was a calculating businesswoman.

How It's Used

Psychology

"Her calculating gaze made him uneasy."

Tip:Think of someone carefully plotting their next move, like a chess player.

From Middle English *calculatynge*, from Old French *calculer*, from Latin *calculāre* "to reckon, compute," from *calculus* "pebble, small stone used in counting.

Historically, the word "calculating" often emphasized the act of using a physical device like an abacus or slide rule for mathematical computations.

Memory tip

Think 'calcu' as in calculator, and 'lating' as in relating to numbers.

Word Origin

Original meaning

"to reckon, compute"

calculating machinecarefully calculatingcalculating device

Common misspellings

calculattingcalulatingcalcuating

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written