Maths

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /mæθs/

Definitions

1. The study of numbers, shapes, and patterns through various methods of calculation and reasoning
2. An academic discipline focused on understanding relationships involving quantities, structures, and changes through logical reasoning
3. A branch of science that employs abstract concepts and systematic approaches to solve problems related to numbers and spatial forms

Etymology: "Maths" is simply a clipped form of "mathematics," with the final syllables dropped to leave a shorter, more casual word. The longer form comes from Greek "mathēmatikē," from "mathēma," meaning "that which is learned" or "knowledge," itself tied to the verb "manthanein," "to learn." Ancient Greeks used the word broadly for any subject of study, and only later narrowed it to the exact sciences of number, quantity and shape. The shortened form is the one that stands out. In British English "maths" is the everyday term, while American speakers typically say "math," which is the same clipping without the final "s." The plural-looking ending on the British version is not a plural in meaning: it is a fragment of the full word, and the "s" survives mainly as a habit of pronunciation and spelling in schools and speech.

Synonyms: mathematics, arithmetic