cal ‧ cu ‧ la ‧ tion S2 /ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃ ə n, ˌkælkjʊˈleɪʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ calculable ≠ ↑ incalculable , ↑ calculated , ↑ calculating ; noun : ↑ calculation , ↑ calculator ; verb : ↑ calculate ; adverb : ↑ calculatedly ]
1 . [countable usually plural, uncountable] when you use numbers in order to find out an amount, price, or value:
Dee looked at the bill and made some rapid calculations.
by sb’s/some/many calculations
By some calculations, the population will reach eight million soon.
2 . [uncountable and countable] careful planning in order to get what you want, especially without caring about the effects on other people ⇨ miscalculation :
political calculation
3 . [uncountable] when you think carefully about what the probable results will be if you do something ⇨ miscalculation
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ do/make a calculation
The children should be able to do that calculation in their heads.
▪ perform a calculation formal (=do one)
Computers can perform calculations very quickly.
■ adjectives
▪ a simple calculation
A simple calculation will show that these figures are incorrect.
▪ a rough calculation (=not very detailed or exact)
I made a few rough calculations of how much it would cost.
▪ a quick/rapid calculation
He did a rapid calculation.
▪ a detailed calculation
Your report must be supported by detailed calculations.
▪ complex calculations
Computers can be used to handle complex calculations.
▪ mathematical calculations
pages of mathematical calculations
▪ somebody's calculations are right/correct/accurate
Fortunately his calculations were accurate.
▪ somebody's calculations are wrong/inaccurate
Some of our calculations were wrong.