compute

verb

com·​pute kəm-ˈpyüt 

computed; computing

transitive verb

: to determine especially by mathematical means

Compute the area of the triangle.

also : to determine or calculate by means of a computer

computing pi to over one billion places

intransitive verb

1

: to make calculation : reckon

They compute by weight in selling grain.

2

: to use a computer

3

informal : to make sense

No matter how you do the math, it will not work … . It simply does not compute.

—Chuck Finder

Synonyms

• calculate
• cipher
• figure
• reckon
• work out

Examples of compute in a Sentence

for the test we were required to compute the answers without using a calculator

Recent Examples on the Web

Phiala Shanahan, a nuclear and particle physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, leads a team that computes the behavior of quarks and gluons starting from the equations of the strong force. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2024

The 2023 Turing Award—the computing world’s Nobel Prize equivalent—has been given to mathematician Avi Wigderson for his groundbreaking and widely applicable contributions to computer science. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024

On the upside, there’s the state’s information businesses – that’s all the computing know-how plus the creative types who make entertainment magic. —Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024

As the technology develops, companies are rushing to integrate it into apps and online searches, ramping up computing power requirements. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024

And Huang said that Nvidia’s computing platform Omniverse now streams to Apple’s Vision Pro headset, and that Chinese EV-maker BYD is adopting Nvidia’s next generation computer Thor. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024

The Rise of Ambient Computing: Integrating computing seamlessly into the environment through wearables, smart homes, and other technologies for a more natural and intuitive user experience. —Steve Andriole, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

There’s a cool upcoming chip that does AI super efficiently by mixing its memory and computing resources. —Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024

Both aim to dominate the twenty-first-century economy, which means gaining the upper hand in computing technologies, biotechnology, and clean energy. —Jami Miscik, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin computare — more at count

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing compute

• pre-compute

Kids Definition

compute

verb

com·​pute kəm-ˈpyüt 

computed; computing

: to determine or calculate especially by mathematical means

also : to determine or calculate by means of a computer

computable

-ˈpyüt-ə-bəl

adjective

Etymology

from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to account, count entry 1