compute

UK: /kəmˈpjuːt/ US: /kəmˈpjut/ ,(kəm pyo̅o̅t′)

Inflections of 'compute' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

computes

v 3rd person singular

computing

v pres p

computed

v past

computed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pute /kəmˈpyut/   v., -put•ed, -put•ing. 

1. [~ + object] to determine by calculation or by using a computer; calculate:
   Compute the distance from the earth to the moon.
2. Computing to use a computer:
   [no object] He had been computing since 1978.

com•put•a•bil•i•ty /kəmˌpyutəˈbɪlɪti/  n. [uncountable]
com•put•a•ble, adj. 
com•put•ing, n. [uncountable]
com•put•ist /kəmˈpyutɪst, ˈkɑmpyʊ-/  n. [countable] See -pute-.
Related Words

compute is a verb, computer is a noun, computational is an adjective:
Compute your average from the grades you have. The computer works too slowly. There were some difficult computational steps to follow in the experiment.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pute  (kəm pyo̅o̅t′), v., -put•ed, -put•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to determine by calculation; reckon;
   calculate:
   to compute the period of Jupiter's revolution.
2. Computing to determine by using a computer or calculator.

v.i. 

3. to reckon;
   calculate.
4. Computing to use a computer or calculator.
5. Informal Terms to make sense;
   add up:
   His reasons for doing that just don't compute.

n. 

6. computation:
   outer space that is vast beyond compute.

• Late Latin computus calculation, number, noun, nominal derivative of computāre; compare putative, count¹
• Middle French
• Latin computāre, equivalent. to com- com- + putāre to think; (noun, nominal) late Middle English
• 1375–1425 for earlier sense; 1580–90 for def. 6; (verb, verbal)

com•put′a•ble, adj. 
com•put′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
com•put′a•bly, adv. 
com•put•ist  (kəm pyo̅o̅′tist, kom′pyŏŏ-), n.  Synonyms

• 1. estimate, count, figure.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

compute / kəmˈpjuːt/ verb

1. to calculate (an answer, result, etc), often with the aid of a computer

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin computāre, from putāre to think

comˈputable adjective

comˌputaˈbility noun