Open Dictionary
mouse here to listen, click to choose/add more
Location: USA
Source: Learn That Word
Profile URL: www.learnthat.org

Are you a native English speaker? How do you pronounce this word?

Thank you for contributing!
upload mp3 file or record now it's easy, promised!

{%type%} Definitions

WordNet 3.0Copyright Princeton University
{%wordnet%}
Definitions.net
{%definitions_com%}

Videos

Short "hint"

A frame with groups of beads that slide back and forth on wires: it is used for doing arithmetic quickly without writing.

edit
Usage examples (39)
  • An abacus can be used to add, subtract, multiply, or divide.
  • The columns of these pillared porches have sixteen flutings, a plain abacus, and no plinth.
  • Thus the fourth column from the west is his, and perhaps the fifth up to the abacus, which is convex and of limestone.
  • For a lesson in arithmetic, Brad assembled a kind of abacus out of colored blocks, astounding his teacher.
...click for more
Tutoring comment


Tutoring comment not yet available...

add more
The Open Dictionary of English is a collaborative project, based on Open Source materials, LearnThat resources, and partner APIs.
We give special thanks to our LearnThat volunteers, as well as Princeton University and Wiktionary for their Open Source word data. We're also grateful for the support given by Google, Wordnik.com, Dictionary.com, Stands4.com and YouTube, OEDILF.com, Kylescholz.com, Best-Practice.com, Forvo.com, as well as the generous Creative Commons community.