calculator

[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 opertion.
3.
a person who operates such a machine.
4.
a set of tables that facilitates calculation.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English < Latin; see calculate, -tor
Related forms
minicalculator, noun
Examples from the web for calculator
  • Often he had his calculator on the side, adding and weighting and subtracting and compiling.
  • And they will not be able to even total the fast food purchase with a calculator.
  • Indeed, aside from the pocket calculator, the introduction of new products has fallen off drastically in the last ten years.
  • The word originally meant an individual who solved equations, often using a mechanical calculator.
  • HP not only launched a succession of world-changing products, such as the pocket calculator.
  • Near the boardroom sits a desk-sized calculator with hundreds of knobs.
  • He had set the detonation timer, disguised as a calculator, when seeing her off to the airport.
  • It happens to be the default level that comes up when you use the military retirement calculator.
  • Each student has a graphing calculator which is hooked up to the teacher's computer screen.
  • Any student who forgets his or her non-graphing calculator can borrow mine.
British Dictionary definitions for calculator

calculator

/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
Word Origin and History for calculator
n.

late 14c., "mathematician, one who calculates," from Latin calculator, from calculatus, past participle of calculare "to reckon, compute," from calculus (see calculus). Of mechanical adding machine contraptions, from 1784. Of electronic ones, from 1946.

Electronic calculator uses 18,000 tubes to solve complex problems ["Scientific American" headline, June 1946]

calculator in Culture

calculator definition


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.

calculator in Technology


bitty box