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Definition of mathematics noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

mathematics

noun
 
/ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/
 
/ˌmæθəˈmætɪks/
(formal)
(British English also maths
 
/mæθs/
 
/mæθs/
)
(North American English also math
 
/mæθ/
 
/mæθ/
)
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  1. [uncountable] the study of numbers and shapes. Branches of mathematics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
    • the school mathematics curriculum
    • applied/pure mathematics
    Extra Examples
    • Both science and mathematics show us that the universe has not been around for an infinite duration of time.
    • Galileo was appointed professor of mathematics at the University of Padua.
    • There is a whole field of applied mathematics which is eminently practical.
    • Astronomy in this mould becomes a branch of pure mathematics.
    Topics Educationa2, Maths and measurementa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • applied
    • pure
    • school
    phrases
    • a branch of mathematics
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable + singular or plural verb] the process of calculating using numbers
    • He worked out the very difficult mathematics in great detail.
    • Her proof is a remarkable piece of mathematics.
    • The mathematics of baseball is/are very interesting.
    Topics Maths and measurementa2
  3. Word Originlate 16th cent.: plural of obsolete mathematic ‘mathematics’, from Old French mathematique, from Latin (ars) mathematica ‘mathematical (art)’, from Greek mathēmatikē (tekhnē), from the base of manthanein ‘learn’.
See mathematics in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee mathematics in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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adjective
 
 
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