[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/calculator.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / calculator

[← C](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/C/)

# calculator

«calculator» in Mova's school dictionary: **a small electronic machine for doing sums and other maths…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a calculator, calculators)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A calculator is a small electronic machine for doing sums and other maths quickly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#m1)

2) A calculator can also be a computer program or phone app that does the same thing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In maths lessons pupils use calculators for big or hard sums and to check answers, but must also learn mental and written methods; in some tests calculators are not allowed. A sensible estimate first helps you spot when you pressed a wrong key. Phrases: «calculator allowed», «use a calculator to check».

### examples

- Use a calculator to check your answer. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#x1)
- Calculators are not allowed in this test. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#x2)
- I typed 25 × 4 into the calculator and got 100. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#x3)
- My phone has a calculator app. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#x4)
- Estimate first, then use the calculator. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#x5)
- The calculator needs a new battery. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/#x6)

### note

Countable. Spelled «calcul-ator» (ends in -or). Verb: calculate; noun: calculation. Trap: a calculator only gives the right answer if you type the right numbers and the right operation, so think about whether the answer makes sense.

### In the corpora

- [Some chatbots guess numbers like words, so big sums can come out wrong; check with a calculator.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/4-stories-jokes-and-riddles/11/)
- [Schools are making rules about AI, like rules about calculators: read them, and when you are not sure, ask.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/9-the-essay-the-teacher-spotted/7/)
- [Mia's dad has a good rule: using AI for homework is like using a calculator.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/10-using-ai-to-learn-not-to-copy/0/)
- [Learn a skill first, then use tools to check it, the way you use a calculator.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/10-using-ai-to-learn-not-to-copy/9/)
- [Indian mathematicians treated zero as a real number, and the digits 0 to 9 on your calculator were invented in India.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/history/8-ancient-india-ashoka-zero-and-our-numbers/4/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «calculator» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/calculator/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.