Illustration of abacus
- abacus 1
abacus
noun
aba·cus ˈa-bə-kəs 
ə-ˈba-
ə-ˈba- plural abaci ˈa-bə-ˌsī or abacuses
-ˌkē;
ə-ˈba-ˌkī or abacuses 1
: an instrument for performing calculations by sliding counters along rods or in grooves
2
: a slab that forms the uppermost member or division of the capital of a column
Did you know?
Probably of Babylonian origin, an abacus is a calculating instrument that uses beads that slide along a series of wires or rods set in a frame to represent the decimal places. It is the ancestor of the modern digital calculator. Used by merchants in the Middle Ages throughout Europe and the Arabic world, it was gradually replaced by arithmetic based on Hindu-Arabic numerals. Though rarely used in Europe past the 18th century, it is still used in the Middle East, China, and Japan.
Word History
Etymology
Latin, from Greek abak-, abax, literally, slab
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
abacus
noun
aba·cus ˈa-bə-kəs
plural abaci
ˈa-bə-ˌsī
or abacuses : an instrument for doing arithmetic by sliding counters along rods or in grooves