noun
calculus
KAL-kyuu-luhs
noun
1
A branch of mathematics dealing with rates of change and the accumulation of quantities.
"She studied calculus in her first year of engineering school."
2
A hard mineral deposit that forms in the body, such as on teeth or in an organ.
"The dentist scraped away the calculus built up along his gum line."
How to Use Calculus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the advanced math subject covering derivatives and integrals; in a medical context, a hardened mineral deposit like tartar or a kidney stone.
Common pairings
differential calculus
integral calculus
dental calculus
Word Forms
calculi plural, calculuses plural
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Etymology
From Latin calculus, "small pebble," the same word used for counting stones on an abacus — mathematicians later borrowed it for this branch of math.