compute

Everyday

1. (formal) To work out an answer or amount by calculating. tree →
2. (informal, often «it doesn't compute») To make sense. tree →
3. (formal, exam) A command word: «Compute the total expenditure» means calculate it. tree →
4. (casual) In everyday talk people say «work out», «add up», «do the maths» (UK, Australia: «maths»; US: «math»), «crunch the numbers». tree →
5. (casual, joking) «Does not compute» in a robot voice means this makes no sense. tree →

In the lessons

A formal word for «calculate», used in maths questions: «compute the sum», «compute the area». It is the root of «computer». «It does not compute» is a joke way to say something makes no sense. In the exam voice: «Compute the total expenditure incurred», «Compute the mean». In casual talk: «do the maths», «add it up», «crunch the numbers». Phrases: compute the total, compute the average, compute the area.

Examples

• Compute the area of a rectangle 6 m long and 4 m wide. tree →
• The computer can compute huge sums in a second. tree →
• Compute 25 times 4 in your head. tree →
• She computed how much money she had left. tree →
• Compute the average of 3, 5 and 7. tree →
• He says he is tired but he ran all day? That doesn't compute. tree →
• Compute the total expenditure incurred in the purchase of 4 pens at 30 cents per pen. (formal exam) tree →
• do the maths, 3 of us, 12 sweets, that's 4 each (casual) tree →
• Crunch the numbers and tell me if we can afford it. (casual) tree →
• You got 30 for 6 × 4? Doesn't compute, mate, it's 24. (rough, joking) tree →

Note

Regular verb: computed. Nouns: computation, computer. In a maths problem «compute» means calculate; it does not tell you which operation to use. Same family of exam words: calculate, determine, evaluate, ascertain. «Expenditure incurred» (formal) = money spent. «Doesn't compute» means it makes no sense, not a sum.