computation

[kom-pyoo-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. an act, process, or method of computing; compute; calculation.

2. a result of computing. compute.

3. the amount computed.

computation

/ ˌkɒmpjʊˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a calculation involving numbers or quantities

Other Word Forms

• computational adjective
• computative adjective
• computatively adverb
• miscomputation noun
• noncomputation noun
• recomputation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of computation¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin computātiōn-, stem of computātiō, from computāt(us) “reckoned” (past participle of computāre “to reckon, sum up”; compute ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The Allen Institute contributed the biological foundation of the virtual brain using data from the Allen Cell Types Database and the Allen Connectivity Atlas, while Fugaku handled the massive computations needed to generate the model.

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Prior to that, the women computers would perform all sorts of computations included in agency reports, but only the men’s names would be put on the cover.

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"Instead of relying on electronic circuits, we use the physical properties of light to perform many computations simultaneously."

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Entanglement is “critical for quantum computation,” IBM said, and can be used for discovering the inner workings of molecules.

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Delivery for both systems, which allow customers to increase the system qubit count for more complex computations and research, is expected in the first half of 2026.

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Related Words

• calculation 
• computing