First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1sum
noun \ˈsəm\
Definition of SUM
1
: an indefinite or specified amount of money
2
: the whole amount : aggregate
3
: the utmost degree : summit <reached the sum of human happiness>
4
5
a (1) : the result of adding numbers <the sum of 5 and 7 is 12> (2) : the limit of the sum of the first n terms of an infinite series as n increases indefinitely b : numbers to be added; broadly : a problem in arithmetic c (1) : disjunction 2 (2) : union 2d
— sum·ma·bil·i·ty \ˌsə-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— sum·ma·ble \ˈsə-mə-bəl\ adjective
— in sum
: in short : briefly
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Origin of SUM
Middle English summe, from Anglo-French sume, somme, from Latin summa, from feminine of summus highest; akin to Latin super over — more at over
2sum
verb
summedsum·ming
Definition of SUM
transitive verb
1
: to calculate the sum of : total
2
intransitive verb
: to reach a sum : amount
See sum defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SUM
14th century
3sum
noun \ˈsəm\
plural sums
SUM Defined for Kids
1sum
noun \ˈsəm\
Definition of SUM for Kids
1
: the result obtained by adding numbers <The sum of 4 and 5 is 9.>
2
: a problem in arithmetic
3
: a quantity of money <We donated a small sum.>
4
: the whole amount <Two trips is the sum of my travel experience.>
2sum
verb
summedsum·ming
Definition of SUM for Kids
: to find the total number of by adding or counting
— sum up
: to tell again in a few words : summarize
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