compute
gb/kəmpjˈut/ us/kəmpjˈut/
B2
Inglés
~ 10000
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Verbo
B2
action
1
calculate a number or result
To find a number or answer by doing math, often using a computer or calculator.
Patrón de uso:
to compute [a result] from [data]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "compute" in very casual speech where "do the math" or "figure out" would sound more natural. "Compute" is correct but can sound a bit formal or technical in everyday conversation. Also, some learners confuse "compute" with "count": "compute to ten" is wrong; say "count to ten".
Sinónimos
calculate (The most common general word for finding an answer using numbers; slightly more general and more frequent than "compute" in everyday speech.)
Antónimos
guess (Means to give an answer without using careful calculation or exact methods, which is the opposite of computing.)
Colocaciones
compute the result
|compute the average
|compute the cost
|compute the total
|compute the probability
|compute a value
Temas
mathematics
|technology
|science
|education
Ejemplos
- The program can compute your monthly payments in seconds.
- Scientists used a model to compute the risk of flooding in the area.
- First, we need to compute the total cost of the project.
- The device automatically computes the distance you have walked each day.
- You can compute the average by adding the numbers and dividing by how many there are.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The app computes how many calories you eat each day.
- My teacher showed us how to compute the sum of these numbers.
- This machine computes the price very quickly.
- Engineers compute the load on the bridge before they build it.
- I used a spreadsheet to compute my travel expenses.
Verbo
technical
C1
action
2
process data by computing
To let a computer work on data and get a result, usually as part of a program or algorithm.
Patrón de uso:
to compute [output] from [input]
Error frecuente:
Learners often think "compute" in computer science always means working with numbers, but it can also refer to operations on text, images, or any kind of data. Another confusion is using "compute" transitively in patterns where English prefers intransitive or passive forms, for example, saying "It computes the in O(n)" instead of "It computes in O(n) time."
Sinónimos
process (A broader technical term for a computer working on data; it does not always imply a clear numerical result the way "compute" often does.)
Antónimos
store (In computing, storing data means keeping it without changing it, while computing data means actively performing operations on it.)
Colocaciones
compute the output
|compute a function
|compute the result
|compute a solution
|compute in real time
|compute efficiently
Temas
technology
|science
Ejemplos
- The algorithm computes the optimal route in under a millisecond.
- This model can compute complex functions on very large datasets.
- The server cluster is used to compute real-time analytics for millions of users.
- We need a GPU to compute these graphics-intensive tasks efficiently.
- The system computes the risk score based on hundreds of variables.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Many phones can compute difficult tasks very fast.
- The program computes the answer after you click this button.
- Powerful computers can compute big data sets.
- Our server computes the results and sends them to the app.
- This robot computes what to do next using its sensors.
Verbo
informal
C1
state
3
seem logical or make sense
To seem right and logical when you think about it carefully.
Patrón de uso:
[something] (doesn't) compute
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think this use of "compute" is literal and try to use it with objects, like "I computed his story" to mean "I understood his story". In this figurative sense, "compute" is usually used without an object in patterns like "It doesn't compute" or "The story doesn't compute."
Sinónimos
add up (Common informal phrasal verb meaning to make sense; slightly less technical-sounding and more widely used than "compute" in this figurative way.)
Antónimos
confuse (If something confuses you, it does not make sense; this is the opposite of something computing or adding up.)
Colocaciones
it doesn't compute
|the story doesn't compute
|the numbers don't compute
|this just doesn't compute
Temas
logic
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- His explanation just doesn't compute when you look at the facts.
- The numbers don't compute; there must be an error in the report.
- Her reaction didn't compute with what I know about her.
- Your timeline doesn't compute—there's an hour missing.
- Something about this plan doesn't compute for me.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- His story does not compute. Something is wrong.
- These numbers do not compute for me.
- The plan sounds good, but one detail does not compute.
- Her answer does not compute with the question.
- This result does not compute with the data we have.
unknown
technical
C2
entity
4
computing power or resources
The power of computers to do work, usually measured by how much processing they can do.
Patrón de uso:
[system] has enough compute to [do something]
Error frecuente:
Learners may not realize that "compute" can be a noun in modern tech English, and may try to say *"computer power"* instead of "computing power" or "compute". Note that this noun use is mainly in technical and business-technology contexts, not in everyday speech.
Sinónimos
computing power (More explicit and slightly more common phrase in general technical writing; "compute" as a noun is newer and more informal within tech circles.)
Antónimos
idle time (Refers to time when processors are not doing work, the opposite of active use of compute resources.)
Colocaciones
more compute
|enough compute
|limited compute
|GPU compute
|cloud compute
|compute resources
Temas
technology
|business
|science
Ejemplos
- We don't have enough compute to train this model in a reasonable time.
- The company is moving workloads to the cloud to access more on-demand compute.
- GPU compute is reserved for the most intensive tasks.
- They optimized the algorithm to use less compute and memory.
- With cheap cloud compute, small startups can run very large experiments.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- This phone does not have enough compute for heavy games.
- We can rent more compute from a cloud service.
- Better compute lets us run bigger programs.
- The new server gives us extra compute for our project.
- They use a lot of compute to train the AI model.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
compute
AFI
GB/kəmpjˈut/
US/kəmpjˈut/
Sílabas y acento
com - pute (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pute)
Formas de la palabra
Verb
- Base: compute
- 3rd Person Singular: computes
- Present Participle: computing
- Past: computed
Familia de palabras
Forms
computes
verb
computing
verb
computed
verb
Core family
computer
noun A1
computation
noun C1
Related words
Advanced or less common
computerization
noun
computable
adjective
Expresiones
does not compute
1/dˈʌz nˈɑt kəmpjˈut/
idiom
informal
stated as not logically consistent
Said, often humorously, when information seems wrong or impossible to accept logically, like a robot saying it cannot understand.
Ejemplos
- You spent more than you earned, but you say you saved money—that does not compute.
- If he was at work all day, how did he post live videos from home? That does not compute.
- Her claim that she "never studies" but always gets top scores just does not compute.
it doesn't compute
1/ˈɪt dˈʌzənt kəmpjˈut/
idiom
informal
something does not make sense
Used to say that something does not seem right, logical, or believable when you think about it.
Ejemplos
- I checked the dates, and it doesn't compute—she couldn't have been there at that time.
- His excuse just doesn't compute when you look at the video evidence.
- The budget numbers don't match the report; it doesn't compute.