Compute
/kəmˈpjuːt/
Definitions
To calculate or ascertain (a number or amount) mathematically.
/kəmˈpjuːt/
To calculate or determine mathematically.
The accountant will compute the company's profits.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're doing math problems or using a calculator. To compute something means to figure it out using numbers and formulas, just like how a computer does it!
👶 For kids: To compute means to figure out the answer to a math problem, like adding or subtracting.
More Examples
The scientist needed to compute the trajectory of the rocket.
Can you help me compute the final score?
How It's Used
"The student needed to compute the area of the triangle."
"The program can compute complex algorithms efficiently."
"They needed to compute the total cost of the project."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From Latin *computare* 'to calculate,' from *com-* 'with, together' + *putare* 'to reckon, think'.
Historically, 'compute' was also used more generally to mean 'consider' or 'reckon,' but the mathematical sense is now dominant.
Memory tip
Think of a computer; it *computes* data to give you answers.
Word Origin
"to calculate"