Compute

/kəmˈpjuːt/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To reckon, calculate..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To reckon, calculate.
2. (intransitive, informal) To make sense. (commonly used in mimicry of a science fictional robot and spoken in a robotic voice; most frequently in negative constructs)
3. (chiefly cloud computing) Computational processing power.

Example Sentences

Can anyone here compute the square root of 10201?

Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belov’d, / Son in whoſe face inviſible is beheld / Viſibly, what by Deitie I am, / And in whoſe hand what by Decree I doe, / Second Omnipotence, two dayes are paſt, / Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heav’n, / Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame / Theſe diſobedient[…]

"When we have ascertained exactly how little will serve we shall be able to compute how long we shall be able to exist."

Coxhead (2000) computed that the AWL covered approximately 10% of the academic corpus from which it was derived[.]

Does that compute, or do I need to explain further?

Then at the last minute Harris was brought aboard as Dr. Zachary Smith, initially an authentic, lip-curling nogoodnik who, it was presently discovered, could be better used for laughs played off Mumy and a sober-sided robot (“You bubbleheaded booby,” sneers Harris. “That does not compute,” returns the robot dryly).

And you'd feel an utter fool if, when you asked where the biscuit was, a message came out: "Biscuits do not compute. Your wife programmed your diet."

Guitarist Chris Stein is also against defining the music. When he sees a reporter with a notebook backstage after a concert he does robot impersonations saying, 'What is punk rock? What is punk rock? Brurruph, burruph, does not compute.'

Synonyms for compute

Antonyms for compute

Related Words

Word Forms

• computes
• computing
• computed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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