calculator

American  

[kal-kyuh-ley-ter] / ˈkæl kyəˌleɪ tər /

noun

1. a person who calculates or computes.

2. Also called calculating machine.  a small electronic or mechanical device that performs calculations, requiring manual action for each individual operation.

3. a person who operates such a machine.

4. a set of tables that facilitates calculation.

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calculator British  

/ ˈkælkjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a device for performing mathematical calculations, esp an electronic device that can be held in the hand

2. a person or thing that calculates

3. a set of tables used as an aid to calculations

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calculator Cultural  

1. An electronic device for performing automatic mathematical computations, usually controlled by a keyboard. Some are actually small computers, with limited memory, that allow the user to use simple programs.

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Other Word Forms

• minicalculator noun

Etymology

Origin of calculator

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin; calculate, -tor

Example Sentences

The central actor here is Texas Instruments, the electronics firm best-known for its hand-held calculators.

From The Wall Street Journal

I’ve created all sorts of tools, including suggested portfolios, massive tables of historical data, a sophisticated online calculator, and I’ve spoken to countless groups of people.

From MarketWatch

The researchers have made the eGFR distribution charts freely available to healthcare professionals and created an online calculator that shows where a patient falls within age-based population norms.

From Science Daily

AAA has a driving-costs calculator that lets you see how much a specific car will cost you over the long run.

From MarketWatch

Elise Gould, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank, gives an example using data from EPI’s family budget calculator.

From MarketWatch