2. arithmetical calculation: a mathematical problem involving adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing numbers, especially one given to students to solve
3. total: the total amount resulting when two or more numbers or quantities are added together
4. combined total: the combined total amount or quantity of something
5. mathematics limit of sum of series: the limit, as n increases indefinitely, of the sum of the first n terms of an infinite series
6. gist: the essential point of something that somebody has said or written
(
literary
)
transitive verb (3rd person present singularsums, present participlesumming, past and past participlesummed)
Definition:
add up amounts: to add together two or more amounts to find their total
(
formal
)
[13th century. Via French< Latin summa 'sum, substance' < form of summus 'highest']
The semantic development of sum from 'highest' to 'sum total' resulted from the Roman practice of counting columns of figures from the bottom upwards, the total being written at the top.
