Abacus

Abacus
Abacus Ab"a*cus ([a^]b"[.a]*k[u^]s), n.; E. pl. {Abacuses}; L. pl. {Abaci} (-s[imac]). [L. abacus, abax, Gr. 'a`bax] 1. A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, etc. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

2. A calculating table or frame; an instrument for performing arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on wires, or counters in grooves, the lowest line representing units, the second line, tens, etc. It is still employed in China. [1913 Webster]

3. (Arch.) (a) The uppermost member or division of the capital of a column, immediately under the architrave. See {Column}. (b) A tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamented or mosaic work. [1913 Webster]

4. A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard. [1913 Webster]

{Abacus harmonicus} (Mus.), an ancient diagram showing the structure and disposition of the keys of an instrument. --Crabb. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Abacus — est un éditeur de jeux de société allemand. Quelques jeux édités par Abacus Uisge, 1984, Roland Siegers, Spiel des Jahres plus beau jeu 1984 Lines of Action, 1988, Claude Soucie Andromeda, 1991, Alan R. Moon En Garde ou Duell, 1993, Reiner Knizia …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Abacus — (Реджо ди Калабрия,Италия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Via Nino Bixio 11/B, 89127 Реджо ди Калаб …   Каталог отелей

  • abacus — (n.) late 14c., sand table for drawing, calculating, etc., from L. abacus, from Gk. abax (gen. abakos) counting table, from Hebrew abaq dust, from root a b q to fly off. Originally a drawing board covered with dust or sand that could be written… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Abăcus — (lat., vom gr.), 1) Tisch, worauf man Prunkgefäße setzte; 2) Rechenbret zu arithmetischen Berechnungen; daher Abacist, Rechenmeister; 3) Zahlentabelle, z.B. A. pythagoricus, das Einmaleins; A. logisticus (Canon hexacondaton), Tafel zur… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Abacus — Abacus, das Rechenbrett der alten Römer; die Platte, mit der ein Säulenknauf bedeckt ist …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Abacus — er i arkitekturen en betegnelse for den øverste, kvadratiske del af et kapitæl (søjlehoved) …   Danske encyklopædi

  • abacus — The normal plural is abacuses …   Modern English usage

  • abacus — ► NOUN (pl. abacuses) ▪ a frame with rows of wires or grooves along which beads are slid, used for calculating. ORIGIN Greek abax slab, drawing board …   English terms dictionary

  • abacus — [ab′ə kəs; ] occas. [ ə bak′əs] n. pl. abacuses or abaci [ab′əsī΄] [L < Gr abax (gen. abakos), counting board, slab] 1. a frame with beads or balls that can be slid on wires or in slots, for doing or teaching arithmetic 2. Archit. a slab… …   English World dictionary

  • Abacus — For other uses, see Abacus (disambiguation). A Chinese abacus …   Wikipedia

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