abacus
[ ab-uh-kuh s, uh-bak-uh s ]
/ ˈæb ə kəs, əˈbæk əs /
noun, plural ab·a·cus·es, ab·a·ci [ab-uh-sahy, -kahy, uh-bak-ahy] /ˈæb əˌsaɪ, -ˌkaɪ, əˈbæk aɪ/.
a device for making arithmetic calculations, consisting of a frame set with rods on which balls or beads are moved.
Architecture.
a slab forming the top of the capital of a column.
Origin of abacus
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: board, counting board, re-formed < Greek
ábax
Words nearby abacus
Example sentences from the Web for abacus
British Dictionary definitions for abacus
abacus
/ (ˈæbəkəs) /
noun plural -ci (-ˌsaɪ) or -cuses
a counting device that consists of a frame holding rods on which a specific number of beads are free to move. Each rod designates a given denomination, such as units, tens, hundreds, etc, in the decimal system, and each bead represents a digit or a specific number of digits
architect
the flat upper part of the capital of a column
Word Origin for abacus
C16: from Latin, from Greek
abax board covered with sand for tracing calculations, from Hebrew
ābhāq dust