compute

[kuhm-pyoot]

See more synonyms for compute on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), com·put·ed, com·put·ing.

to determine by calculation; reckon; calculate: to compute the period of Jupiter's revolution.
to determine by using a computer or calculator.

verb (used without object), com·put·ed, com·put·ing.

to reckon; calculate.
to use a computer or calculator.
Informal. to make sense; add up: His reasons for doing that just don't compute.

noun

computation: outer space that is vast beyond compute.

Origin of compute

1375–1425 for earlier sense; 1580–90 for def 6; (v.) < Latin computāre, equivalent to com- com- + putāre to think; (noun) late Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin computus calculation, number, noun derivative of computāre; cf. putative, count¹

Related formscom·put·a·ble, adjectivecom·put·a·bil·i·ty, nouncom·put·a·bly, adverbcom·put·ist

[kuhm-pyoo-tist, kom-pyoo-] /kəmˈpyu tɪst, ˈkɒm pyʊ-/, nounmis·com·pute, verb, mis·com·put·ed, mis·com·put·ing.pre·com·pute, verb, pre·com·put·ed, pre·com·put·ing.re·com·pute, verb (used with object), re·com·put·ed, re·com·put·ing.un·com·put·a·ble, adjectiveun·com·put·a·ble·ness, nounun·com·put·a·bly, adverbun·com·put·ed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. estimate, count, figure.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for compute

Contemporary Examples

From the dawn of supercomputing to the 2-in-1 PC, this is not so much a history of computers as it is the story of how we compute.
How We Compute: Flexible Hardware Required
September 29, 2014
This is hard to compute, considering that their personal wealth is not recent, nor were questions about it unexpected.
What Hillary Clinton Can Learn From Portugal, Costa Rica, and England in the World Cup
Nathan Daschle
July 1, 2014
The key thing is to be able to compute the exact origin of these signals: position and depth.
If They Are Ever Found, Flight 370’s Black Boxes Should Go to the U.S.
Clive Irving
April 8, 2014
The death toll for which Stalin must bear the blame is not easy to compute, but it cannot be less than twenty million.
Why the World Cannot Forget Stalin
Paul Johnson
February 8, 2014
Terman and his assistant relied on biographical accounts of illustrious individuals to compute the scores.
What is a Genius?
Nick Romeo
November 9, 2013

Historical Examples

In our political parties, compute the power of badges and emblems.
Essays, Second Series
Ralph Waldo Emerson
How many hundreds were done to death in this fashion it is impossible to compute.
The War in South Africa
Arthur Conan Doyle
Finally, we compute the moment of momentum of the sun due to its rotation.
The Story of the Heavens
Robert Stawell Ball
December 5th, 1732, as we compute;—a kind of epoch in his Majesty's life.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. IX. (of XXI.)
Thomas Carlyle
It is difficult to compute the value of the mother to the child.
History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2 (of 2)
George Washington Williams

British Dictionary definitions for compute

compute

verb

to calculate (an answer, result, etc), often with the aid of a computer

noun

calculation; computation (esp in the phrase beyond compute)

Derived Formscomputable, adjectivecomputability, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin computāre, from putāre to think

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for compute

v.

1630s, from French computer, from Latin computare "to count, sum up, reckon together," from com- "with" (see com-) + putare "to reckon," originally "to prune" (see pave). Related: Computed; computing.

compute

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Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for compute

Contemporary Examples

From the dawn of supercomputing to the 2-in-1 PC, this is not so much a history of computers as it is the story of how we compute.

This is hard to compute, considering that their personal wealth is not recent, nor were questions about it unexpected.

The key thing is to be able to compute the exact origin of these signals: position and depth.

The death toll for which Stalin must bear the blame is not easy to compute, but it cannot be less than twenty million.

Terman and his assistant relied on biographical accounts of illustrious individuals to compute the scores.

Historical Examples

In our political parties, compute the power of badges and emblems.

How many hundreds were done to death in this fashion it is impossible to compute.

Finally, we compute the moment of momentum of the sun due to its rotation.

December 5th, 1732, as we compute;—a kind of epoch in his Majesty's life.

It is difficult to compute the value of the mother to the child.

compute

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for compute

v.

Origin of compute