abacus
Pronunciation
  • (RP, GA) IPA: /ˈæbəkəs/
    • (RP) IPA: /ˈæbəkaɪ/, /-saɪ/
    • (GA) IPA: /ˈæbəˌkaɪ/, /-ˌsaɪ/
Noun

abacus (plural abaci)

  1. (historical, obsolete) A table#Noun|table or tray scatter#Verb|scattered with sand#Noun|sand which was use#Verb|used for calculating or draw#Verb|drawing. [attested from c. 1387]
  2. A device used for performing arithmetical calculations; (rare) a table on which loose#Adjective|loose counters are place#Verb|placed, or (more commonly) an instrument with bead#Noun|beads slide#Verb|sliding on rods, or counters in groove#Noun|grooves, with one row#Noun|row of beads or counters representing units, the next tens, etc. [from late 17th c.]
    I’ve heard merchants still use an abacus for adding things up in China.
  3. (architecture) The uppermost portion of the capital of a column immediately under the architrave, in some cases a flat#Adjective|flat oblong#Adjective|oblong or square#Adjective|square slab, in others more decorated#Adjective|decorated. [from mid 16th c.]
  4. (Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, historical) A board#Noun|board, tray, or table, divided into perforated#Adjective|perforated compartments for hold#Verb|holding bottle#Noun|bottles, cup#Noun|cups, or the like; a kind#Noun|kind of buffet#Noun|buffet, cupboard, or sideboard. [from late 18th c.]
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