sum

¹

[suhm]

noun

1. the aggregate of two or more numbers, magnitudes, quantities, or particulars as determined by or as if by the mathematical process of addition.

   The sum of 6 and 8 is 14.

2. a particular aggregate or total, especially with reference to money.

   The expenses came to an enormous sum.

3. an indefinite amount or quantity, especially of money.

   to lend small sums.

4. a series of numbers or quantities to be added up.

5. an arithmetical problem to be solved, or such a problem worked out and having the various steps shown.

6. the full amount, or the whole.

7. the substance or gist of a matter, comprehensively or broadly viewed or expressed.

   the sum of his opinions.

8. concise or brief form.

   in sum.

9. Mathematics.

   1. the limit of the sequence of partial sums of a given infinite series.

   2. union.

10. a summary.

verb (used with object)

summed, summing 

1. to combine into an aggregate or total (often followed byup ).

2. to ascertain the sum of, as by addition.

3. to bring into or contain in a small compass (often followed byup ).

verb (used without object)

summed, summing 

1. to amount (usually followed by to orinto ).

   Their expenses summed into the thousands.

verb phrase

1. sum up

   1. to reckon.

      We summed up our assets and liabilities.

   2. to bring into or contain in a brief and comprehensive statement; summarize.

      to sum up the case for the prosecution.

   3. to form a quick estimate of.

      I summed him up in a minute.

SUM

²

1. surface-to-underwater missile.

sum-

³

1. variant of sub- before m: summon.

sum

¹

/ sʌm /

noun

1. 1. the result of the addition of numbers, quantities, objects, etc

   2. the cardinality of the union of disjoint sets whose cardinalities are the given numbers

2. one or more columns or rows of numbers to be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided

3. maths the limit of a series of sums of the first n terms of a converging infinite series as n tends to infinity

4. (plural) another name for number work

5. a quantity, esp of money

   he borrows enormous sums

6. the essence or gist of a matter (esp in the phrases in sum, in sum and substance )

7. a less common word for summary

8. archaic,  the summit or maximum

9. (modifier) complete or final (esp in the phrase sum total )

verb

1. (often foll by up) to add or form a total of (something)

2. (tr) to calculate the sum of (the terms in a sequence)

sum

²

/ sʊm /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Uzbekistan, divided into 100 tiyin

sum

1. The result of adding numbers or quantities. The sum of 6 and 9, for example, is 15, and the sum of 4 x and 5 x is 9 x.

Other Word Forms

• sumless adjective
• sumlessness noun
• outsum verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of sum¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English summe, from Latin summa “sum,” noun use of feminine of summus “highest,” superlative of superus ( superior ); (verb) Middle English summen (from Old French summer ), from Medieval Latin summāre, derivative of summa

Word History and Origins

Origin of sum¹

C13 summe, from Old French, from Latin summa the top, sum, from summus highest, from superus in a higher position; see _super

Synonym Study

See number.

Example Sentences

Mr Moss would need to pay £22,000 into the scheme from his lump sum to unlock the pension.

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It's not only comedians who have taken up large sums of money from the Saudi government in recent years.

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Baroness Mone said that a share of that sum was paid into a trust in the Isle of Man, of which she and her children are beneficiaries, and so potentially stand to receive the money.

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It summed up Wigan's defensive resolve and they finished the job with the final play as French put Sam Walters over as the Warriors reached a record-equalling 14th Grand Final.

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Any plaintiff who wants to skip that vetting process can take $150,000 in a lump sum at the start of next year.

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Related Words

• amount 
• bulk 
• quantity 
• value 
• worth