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sum up

 - 5 dictionary results

sum-up

  [suhm-uhp]
Use sum up in a Sentence
–noun
the act or result of summing up; summary.
Also, sumup.

Origin:
1890–95; n. use of v. phrase sum up

sum

  [suhm] ,noun, verb, summed, sum⋅ming.
–noun
1. the aggregate of two or more numbers, magnitudes, quantities, or particulars as determined by or as if by the mathematical process of addition: The sum of 6 and 8 is 14.
2. a particular aggregate or total, esp. with reference to money: The expenses came to an enormous sum.
3. an indefinite amount or quantity, esp. of money: to lend small sums.
4. a series of numbers or quantities to be added up.
5. an arithmetical problem to be solved, or such a problem worked out and having the various steps shown.
6. the full amount, or the whole.
7. the substance or gist of a matter, comprehensively or broadly viewed or expressed: the sum of his opinions.
8. concise or brief form: in sum.
9. Mathematics.
a. the limit of the sequence of partial sums of a given infinite series.
b. union (def. 10a).
10. a summary.
–verb (used with object)
11. to combine into an aggregate or total (often fol. by up).
12. to ascertain the sum of, as by addition.
13. to bring into or contain in a small compass (often fol. by up).
–verb (used without object)
14. to amount (usually fol. by to or into): Their expenses summed into the thousands.
—Verb phrase
15. sum up,
a. to reckon: We summed up our assets and liabilities.
b. to bring into or contain in a brief and comprehensive statement; summarize: to sum up the case for the prosecution.
c. to form a quick estimate of: I summed him up in a minute.
Origin:
1250–1300; (n.) ME summe < L summa sum, n. use of fem. of summus highest, superl. of superus (see superior ); (v.) ME summen (< OF summer) < ML summāre, deriv. of summa

Related forms:
sumless, adjective
sum⋅less⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. See number.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sum up
sum   (sŭm)   
n.  

  1. Mathematics

    1. An amount obtained as a result of adding numbers.

    2. An arithmetic problem: a child good at sums.

  2. The whole amount, quantity, or number; an aggregate: the sum of the team's combined experience.

  3. An amount of money: paid an enormous sum.

  4. A summary: my view of the world, in sum.

  5. The central idea or point; the gist.

tr.v.   summed, sum·ming, sums

  1. Mathematics To add.

  2. To give a summary of; summarize.

Phrasal Verb(s):
sum up

  1. To present the substance of (material) in a condensed form; summarize: sum up the day's news; concluded the lecture by summing up.

  2. To describe or assess concisely: an epithet that sums up my feelings.


[Middle English summe, from Old French, from Latin summa, from feminine of summus, highest; see uper in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

sum 
c.1290, "quantity or amount of money," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. summe (13c.), from L. summa "total number, whole, essence, gist," noun use of fem. of summus "highest," from PIE *sup-mos-, from base *uper "over" (see super-). The sense development from "highest" to "total number" is probably via the Roman custom of adding up a stack of figures from the bottom and writing the sum at the top, rather than at the bottom as we do now (cf. the bottom line). Meaning "total number of anything" is recorded from c.1374. Meaning "essence of a writing or speech" also is attested from c.1374. The verb is attested from c.1300; meaning "briefly state the substance of" (now usually with up) is first recorded 1621. Sum-total is attested from c.1395, from M.L. summa totalis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

sum up

Present the substance of, summarize, as in They always sum up the important news in a couple of minutes, or That expletive sums up my feelings about the matter. [Early 1600s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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