Abacus Definition
ăbə-kəs, ə-băkəs
abaci, abacuses
noun
A manual computing device consisting of a frame holding parallel rods strung with movable counters.
American Heritage
A frame with beads or balls that can be slid on wires or in slots, for doing or teaching arithmetic.
Webster's New World
A slab on the top of the capital of a column.
American Heritage
A slab forming the uppermost part of the capital of a column.
Webster's New World
A calculating table or frame; an instrument for performing arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on wires, or counters in grooves, the lowest line representing units, the second line, tens, etc. [First attested in the late 17th century.]
I've heard merchants still use an abacus for adding things up in China.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Abacus
Noun
Singular:
abacus
Plural:
abaci, abacusesOrigin of Abacus
-
Middle English from Latin from Greek abax abak- counting board perhaps from a Semitic source akin to Hebrew ’ābāq dust ℵbq in Semitic roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Latin abacus, abax; from Ancient Greek ἄβαξ (abaks, “board covered with sand”), possibly from Hebrew אבק (āvāq, “dust”).
From Wiktionary
Related Articles
Abacus Is Also Mentioned In
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to abacus using the buttons below.