mathematics
math·emat·ics [ˌmæθəˈmætɪks] [ˌmæθəˈmætɪks] (formal) (also BrE maths [mæθs] ; [mæθs] ) (also NAmE math [mæθ] ; [mæθ] ) noun
1. uncountable the science of numbers and shapes. Branches of mathematics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry
• the school mathematics curriculum
2. uncountable + singular or plural verb the process of calculating using numbers
• He worked out the very difficult mathematics in great detail.
Derived Words: mathematical ▪ mathematically
See also: math ▪ maths
Word Origin:
[mathematical mathematically mathematics] late 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’.