computation

noun

com·​pu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shən 

-pyü-

1

a

: the act or action of computing : calculation

b

: the use or operation of a computer

2

: a system of reckoning

3

: an amount computed

computational

ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

-pyü-

adjective

computationally adverb

Synonyms

• arithmetic
• calculation
• calculus
• ciphering
• figures
• figuring
• math
• mathematics
• number crunching
• numbers
• reckoning

Examples of computation in a Sentence

methods used for the computation of taxes

The solution required a series of computations.

Recent Examples on the Web

This consists of an input layer that receives a signal, an optical cavity that acts like a second layer containing feedback loops (or recurrent loops) that can be tweaked to change the device behavior and an output layer that produces the result of this computation. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025

This is particularly beneficial for AI workloads, which often involve large datasets and complex computations. —Janakiram Msv, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

The problem is that this cascading requires massive parallel computations that, when done on standard computers, take tons of energy and time. —Ars Technica, 12 Jan. 2025

The upside is that repeating the same computation and averaging out the results could make conventional quantum error correction unnecessary. —IEEE Spectrum, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

computation

noun

com·​pu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-pyu̇-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or action of computing : calculation

2

: a system of calculating especially by mathematical means

3

: an amount computed

computational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective