com·pute (k m-py t )v. com·put·ed, com·put·ing, com·putes v.tr.1. To determine by mathematics, especially by numerical methods: computed the tax due. See Synonyms at calculate. 2. To determine by the use of a computer. v.intr.1. To determine an amount or number. 2. To use a computer. 3. Informal To be reasonable, plausible, or consistent; make sense: Your alibi doesn't compute. n. Computation: amounts beyond compute.
[French computer, from Old French, from Latin comput re : com-, com- + put re, to reckon; see pau-2 in Indo-European roots. N., Late Latin computus, from Latin comput re, to compute.]
com·put a·bil i·ty n. com·put a·ble adj. |
computing [kəmˈpjuːtɪŋ]n1. (Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) the activity of using computers and writing programs for them 2. (Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) the study of computers and their implications adj (Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) of or relating to computers computing skills
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structuresstorage allocation, allocation - (computer science) the assignment of particular areas of a magnetic disk to particular data or instructions data encryption - (computer science) the encryption of data for security purposes desktop publishing - (computer science) the use of microcomputers with graphics capacity to produce printed materials memory access, access - (computer science) the operation of reading or writing stored information computer backup, backup - (computer science) a copy of a file or directory on a separate storage device; "he made a backup in case the original was accidentally damaged or erased" buffer storage, buffer store, buffer - (computer science) a part of RAM used for temporary storage of data that is waiting to be sent to a device; used to compensate for differences in the rate of flow of data between components of a computer system memory cache, cache - (computer science) RAM memory that is set aside as a specialized buffer storage that is continually updated; used to optimize data transfers between system elements with different characteristics command key, control key - (computer science) the key on a computer keyboard that is used (in combination with some other key) to type control characters magnetic core, core - (computer science) a tiny ferrite toroid formerly used in a random access memory to store one bit of data; now superseded by semiconductor memories; "each core has three wires passing through it, providing the means to select and detect the contents of each bit" counter - (computer science) a register whose contents go through a regular series of states (usually states indicating consecutive integers) cursor, pointer - (computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving it allows the user to point to commands or screen positions dialog box, panel - (computer science) a small temporary window in a graphical user interface that appears in order to request information from the user; after the information has been provided the user dismisses the box with `okay' or `cancel' DIP switch, dual inline package switch - (computer science) one of a set of small on-off switches mounted in computer hardware; used in place of jumpers to configure the machine for a user disk controller - (computer science) a circuit or chip that translates commands into a form that can control a hard disk drive dongle - (computer science) an electronic device that must be attached to a computer in order for it to use protected software drive - (computer science) a device that writes data onto or reads data from a storage medium file server - (computer science) a digital computer that provides workstations on a network with controlled access to shared resources | | 2. | computing - the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methodstransposition - (mathematics) the transfer of a quantity from one side of an equation to the other along with a change of sign mathematical operation, mathematical process, operation - (mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods; "the problems at the end of the chapter demonstrated the mathematical processes involved in the derivation"; "they were learning the basic operations of arithmetic" recalculation - the act of calculating again (usually to eliminate errors or to include additional data); "recalculation yielded a much larger value" procedure, process - a particular course of action intended to achieve a result; "the procedure of obtaining a driver's license"; "it was a process of trial and error" |
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