abacus

American  

[ab-uh-kuhs, uh-bak-uhs] / ˈæb ə kəs, əˈbæk əs /

noun

plural

abacuses, abaci

1. a device for making arithmetic calculations, consisting of a frame set with rods on which balls or beads are moved.

2. Architecture. a slab forming the top of the capital of a column.

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abacus British  

/ ˈæbəkəs /

noun

1. a counting device that consists of a frame holding rods on which a specific number of beads are free to move. Each rod designates a given denomination, such as units, tens, hundreds, etc, in the decimal system, and each bead represents a digit or a specific number of digits

2. architect the flat upper part of the capital of a column

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Etymology

Origin of abacus

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: board, counting board, re-formed < Greek ábax

Example Sentences

Calculators, cars and probably candles and the abacus were considered a menace to society.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cassiopeia proved it by using her fingers to do sums on her abacus, and flicked the beads up and down with nary a wince.

From Literature

“I suppose the abacus can stay,” she said to herself, frowning, “for we can work our math problems with acorns for the time being, as Cassiopeia does with Nutsawoo.”

From Literature

“No, we do not need a sextant—nor an abacus, Cassiopeia, please put that back.”

From Literature

Much of the buzz around the subject in recent years has been about the development of powerful quantum computers which, the narrative goes, will make our fastest supercomputers seem like abacuses by comparison.

From BBC

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