sum
/sʌm/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms sums summing summed sumy som soum somon sumon sumu
- noun A quantity obtained by addition or aggregation. “The sum of 3 and 4 is 7.”
- noun (often plural) An arithmetic computation, especially one posed to a student as an exercise (not necessarily limited to addition). “We're learning about division, and the sums are tricky.”
- noun A quantity of money.
- noun A summary; the principal points or thoughts when viewed together; the substance. “This is the sum of all the evidence in the case.”
- noun A central idea or point; gist.
- noun (rare or literary) The utmost degree; the greatest or most perfect realization (of some concept).
- noun (obsolete) An old English measure of corn equal to the quarter.
- verb (transitive) To add together.
- verb (transitive) To give a summary of.
- noun The basic unit of money in Kyrgyzstan.
- noun The basic unit of money in Uzbekistan.
- noun A type of administrative district used in China, Mongolia, and Russia. In Mongolia, a sum is smaller than a province. In China, it is only used in Inner Mongolia, where it is equivalent to a township.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
sum total total totality calculation computation amount quantity of money sum of money compendium summation abridgment abstract bottom line conspectus digest epitome outline overview précis résumé amount of money kernel substance core center centre essence gist heart heart and soul
Etymology
From Middle English summe, from Old French summe, from Latin summa (“highest point; sum”), from summus (“highest”).
Borrowed from Kazakh сом (som), Kyrgyz сом (som), Uyghur سوم (som), and Uzbek soʻm, all of which have the core signification “pure”, used in elliptical reference to historical coins of pure gold.
From Mongolian сум (sum), from Manchu ᠨᡳᡵᡠ (niru, “a large arrow, militia company, district”). Ultimately from Proto-Mongolic *sumun (“arrow”).
** a pronunciation of 沈, see Shen.
** Also Romanized from 岑 (cén) based on the Cantonese pronunciation, see Cen.
** Variant Romanization of 覃, see Tan, Qin.
* As a Cambodian/Khmer surname, from the name ស៊ុំ (sum), possibly from the Chinese above.
* As a Slovene and Czech surname Šum, from šum (“noise”) or šum (“waterfall”), compare Shum.
* As a Jewish surname, from Polish sum (“catfish”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The aggregate of two or more numbers, magnitudes, quantities, or particulars; the amount or whole of any number of individuals or particulars added together; as, the sum of 5 and 7 is 12.
- noun A quantity of money or currency; any amount, indefinitely; as, a sum of money; a small sum, or a large sum. "The sum of forty pound." Chaucer.
- verb To bring together into one whole; to collect into one amount; to cast up, as a column of figures; to ascertain the totality of; --usually with up. The mind doth value every moment, and then the hour doth rather sum up the moments, than divide the day. Bacon.
- verb To bring or collect into a small compass; to comprise in a few words; to condense; --usually with up. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard," in few words sums up the moral of this fable. L'Estrange.
Etymology [OE. summe, somme, OF. sume, some, F. somme, L. summa, fr. summus highest, a superlative from sub under. See Sub-, and cf. Supreme.]
Etymology [Cf. F. sommer, LL. summare.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “sum”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details