calculator
KAL-kyuh-lay-tuh
Calculator (noun) means a device, often electronic, used to perform mathematical calculations. Example: “He pulled out his calculator to check the total.”
noun
1
A device, often electronic, used to perform mathematical calculations.
"The calculator on a bookkeeper's desk in the 1950s was an adding machine with mechanical guts."
"I told him to hand me a calculator and he jokingly placed an adding machine at my side."
"He pulled out his calculator to check the total."
"electronic calculator; pocket calculator"
"The calculator in my bag ran out of battery during the exam."
"She used a calculator to split the restaurant bill between six people."
2
A person who calculates, especially one skilled at working things out strategically.
"She was a shrewd calculator of political risk."
"He is a cold calculator who never makes a move without weighing every outcome."
"A good chess player has to be a patient calculator of possible moves."
How to use calculator
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually the small handheld or app-based device used for doing sums; occasionally used for a person who is good at reckoning things up.
Common pairings
scientific calculator
pocket calculator
use a calculator
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He pulled out his _____ to check the total.
Etymology
In the sense of a person, comes from Middle English calkelatour ("a mathematician, an astrologer"), borrowed from Latin calculātor, equivalent to calculate + -or. Its other meanings arose in Modern English.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for calculator
See all rhymes for calculator →Frequently asked questions
What does “calculator” mean?
The word “calculator” means a device, often electronic, used to perform mathematical calculations. In plain terms, usually the small handheld or app-based device used for doing sums; occasionally used for a person who is good at reckoning things up.
How do you pronounce “calculator”?
“Calculator” is pronounced KAL-kyuh-lay-tuh (/kæl.kjə.leɪ.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “calculator” in a sentence?
Here is “calculator” used in a sentence: “He pulled out his calculator to check the total.”
What part of speech is “calculator”?
“Calculator” is a noun.
Is “calculator” a common word?
“Calculator” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “calculator” have?
“Calculator” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device, often electronic, used to perform mathematical calculations.
What is the difference between a calculator and a computer?
A calculator is a device, often electronic, built specifically to perform mathematical calculations, while a computer is a general-purpose machine capable of running many different kinds of programs beyond calculation.
What is the difference between a scientific and a graphing calculator?
Both are devices used to perform mathematical calculations, but a scientific calculator focuses on functions like trigonometry and logarithms, while a graphing calculator adds the ability to plot and visualize equations on a screen.
Can "calculator" refer to a person?
Yes, a calculator can also mean a person who calculates, especially one skilled at working things out strategically — an older usage predating the common electronic device meaning.
