calculation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of using numbers to find an amount or a result.
the systematic process of determining a mathematical result through computation.
Simple“The engineer performed a quick calculation to see if the bridge could hold the weight.”
In context“After performing a complex series of calculations, the research team concluded that the initial hypothesis regarding orbital decay was incorrect.”
Usageoften used with the verbs 'make' or 'perform'
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the final number or answer you get after working with figures.
the specific numerical result or value obtained through mathematical reckoning.
Simple“If my calculations are correct, we should have enough money for the trip.”
In context“The accountant's final calculations revealed a significant discrepancy between the projected revenue and the actual cash flow for the third quarter.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
careful planning that considers what might happen in the future.
a deliberate and often cold assessment of circumstances to determine the best course of action.
Simple“His decision to leave the company was a cold calculation to improve his career.”
In context“The political move was a matter of pure calculation, designed to appeal to swing voters without alienating the party's core supporters.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
thinking ahead about many possible moves and responses in a game.
the mental process of visualizing sequences of potential moves and counter-moves without physically adjusting the pieces.
Simple“After ten minutes of deep calculation, the grandmaster finally moved his knight.”
In context“The engine's superior depth of calculation allowed it to find a forced checkmate that no human player had anticipated during the live commentary.”
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage calculation show
“A voter deciding whether the state government has delivered may have little interest in the calculations being made in Abuja about 2027.”
“Drake’s back-of-the-envelope calculations yielded an estimate of 50,000 transmitting civilisations, but this was essentially just a guess.”
From Middle English calculation, borrowed from Latin calculatio, calculationis. Morphologically calculate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.