arithmetic
arithmetic Lexical Profile
arithmetic Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The branch of mathematics dealing with the properties and manipulation of numbers, especially through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
"Students master basic arithmetic in elementary school before moving on to algebra and geometry."
The use of numbers in counting and calculation; numerical computation.
"If my mental arithmetic is correct, we should have enough budget left to hire two more interns."
• adjective
Relating to, involving, or using the rules and operations of arithmetic.
"The arithmetic mean of the dataset was calculated by adding all values together and dividing by the total count."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Arithmetic' is pronounced differently depending on its part of speech: as a noun, the stress falls on the second syllable (uh-RITH-muh-tik), whereas as an adjective, the stress shifts to the third syllable (ar-ith-MET-ik).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'arsmetique' and directly from Latin 'arithmetica', which derives from Ancient Greek 'arithmētikē (tekhnē)', meaning '(the art of) counting', from 'arithmos' ('number').