arithmetic

arith·me·tic

noun \ə-ˈrith-mə-ˌtik\

Definition of ARITHMETIC

1

a : a branch of mathematics that deals usually with the nonnegative real numbers including sometimes the transfinite cardinals and with the application of the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to them b : a treatise on arithmetic

2

: computation, calculation

— ar·ith·met·ic \ˌer-ith-ˈme-tik, ˌa-rith\ or ar·ith·met·i·cal \-ti-kəl\ adjective

— ar·ith·met·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— arith·me·ti·cian \ə-ˌrith-mə-ˈti-shən\ noun

Examples of ARITHMETIC

1. a software program that will do the arithmetic for you
2. <I haven't actually done the arithmetic yet, but I suspect we're losing money on the deal.>

Origin of ARITHMETIC

Middle English arsmetrik, from Anglo-French arismatike, from Latin arithmetica, from Greek arithmētikē, from feminine of arithmētikos arithmetical, from arithmein to count, from arithmos number; akin to Old English rīm number, and perhaps to Greek arariskein to fit

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ARITHMETIC

Synonyms: calculation, calculus, ciphering, computation, figures, figuring, math, mathematics, number crunching, numbers, reckoning

Related Words: addition, division, multiplication, subtraction; calibration, measurement, mensuration; appraisal, assessment, estimation, evaluation, valuation

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Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

Rhymes with ARITHMETIC

alphabetic, anesthetic, apathetic, asyndetic, copacetic, diabetic, diarrhetic, diathetic, dietetic, digenetic, diphyletic, diuretic, empathetic, energetic, epithetic, geodetic, homiletic, Masoretic, nomothetic, sympathetic, synergetic, synesthetic