arithmetic

The definition of arithmetic refers to working with numbers by doing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

(noun)

An example of arithmetic is adding two and two together to make four.

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See arithmetic in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. the science or art of computing by positive real numbers, specif. by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
  2. knowledge of or skill in this science: her arithmetic is poor

Origin: ME arsmetrike < OFr arismetrique (infl. in form by L ars metrica, the art of measurement) < L arithmetica < Gr (hē) arithmētikē (technē), (the) counting (art) < arithmētikos, arithmetical < arithmein, to count < arithmos, number

adjective

of, based on, or using arithmetic

Related Forms:

See arithmetic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. The mathematics of integers, rational numbers, real numbers, or complex numbers under addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
  2. Archaic A book on this kind of mathematics.
adjective ar·ith·met·ic (ărˌĭth-mĕtˈĭk) also arˌith·metˈi·cal (ărˌĭth-mĕtˈĭ-kəl)
  1. Of or relating to arithmetic.
  2. Changing according to an arithmetic progression: The increase in the food supply is arithmetic.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English arsmetike

Origin: , from Old French arismetique

Origin: , from Medieval Latin arismetica

Origin: , alteration of Latin arithmētica

Origin: , from Greek arithmētikē (tekhnē), (art) of counting

Origin: , feminine of arithmētikos

Origin: , from arithmein, to count

Origin: , from arithmos, number; see ar- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • arˌith·metˈi·cal·ly adverb
  • a·rithˌme·tiˈcian (-tĭshˈən) noun

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