noun
abacus
A-buh-kuhs
Abacus (noun) means a manual calculating tool made of a frame with rows of sliding beads, used to add, subtract, and perform other arithmetic. Example: “Her grandmother could add up long columns of numbers on an abacus faster than most people with a calculator.”
noun
1
A manual calculating tool made of a frame with rows of sliding beads, used to add, subtract, and perform other arithmetic.
"Her grandmother could add up long columns of numbers on an abacus faster than most people with a calculator."
How to use abacus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wood-and-bead counting frame used to do arithmetic by hand.
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Word forms
- Plural
- abaci, abacuses
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Her grandmother could add up long columns of numbers on an _____ faster than most people with a calculator.
Etymology
From Latin abacus, from Ancient Greek ábax, meaning a slab or board covered in sand for drawing or counting.
Rhymes for abacus
See all rhymes for abacus →Frequently asked questions
What does “abacus” mean?
The word “abacus” means a manual calculating tool made of a frame with rows of sliding beads, used to add, subtract, and perform other arithmetic. In plain terms, a wood-and-bead counting frame used to do arithmetic by hand.
How do you pronounce “abacus”?
“Abacus” is pronounced A-buh-kuhs (/ˈæbəkəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “abacus” in a sentence?
Here is “abacus” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother could add up long columns of numbers on an abacus faster than most people with a calculator.”
What part of speech is “abacus”?
“Abacus” is a noun.
Where does the word “abacus” come from?
The word “abacus” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin abacus, from Ancient Greek ábax, meaning a slab or board covered in sand for drawing or counting.
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