Computational
ˌkɒmpjʊˈteɪʃənəl
Definitions
Relating to or involving the use of computers or calculation.
ˌkɒmpjʊˈteɪʃənəl
Relating to computation or computers
The scientist used a computational model to predict the weather.
💡 Simply: It means using computers or doing calculations to solve problems or understand things. For example, if you're using a computer program to figure out how a car works, that's a computational process.
👶 For kids: Something that has to do with computers doing math and solving problems.
More Examples
Computational methods have revolutionized the field of drug discovery.
We need a computational solution for this complex problem.
How It's Used
"Computational models are used to simulate complex systems."
"Computational mathematics deals with numerical methods for solving mathematical problems."
"Computational biology utilizes computer models to study biological processes."
Idioms & expressions
Computational power
The ability of a computer or system to perform calculations.
"The new supercomputer boasts impressive computational power."
Computational complexity
The study of the resources (time, memory) needed to solve a problem.
"Understanding the computational complexity of a problem is critical for efficient algorithm design."
Derived from the verb 'compute' (from Latin 'computare', meaning 'to calculate') and the suffix '-al'. The term gained prominence with the rise of computers and digital technology.
The term became widely used in the mid-20th century with the advent of computers, particularly in fields like physics, mathematics, and computer science.
Memory tip
Think of the ability of your computer to COMPUTE and ANALYZE, and the adjective describes something relating to that.