sum
8 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
sums
plural
sums
Britannica Dictionary definition of SUM
1
[count]
:
an amount of money
—
see also lump sum
-
They spent large/considerable sums (of money) repairing the house.
-
We donated a small sum (of money) to the charity.
-
The sellers were asking for a modest sum.
-
I paid the sum of $500.
2
[count]
a
:
the result of adding two or more numbers together
-
The sum of 5 and 7 is 12.
b
:
a simple problem in mathematics
— usually plural
-
schoolchildren doing sums
3
[singular]
:
the whole amount of something
—
see also sum total
-
Working odd summer jobs has been the sum of my experience so far. [=has been all the experience I've had so far]
in sum
1
:
as a brief statement of the most important information in a piece of writing or speech
-
In sum [=in summary], we need a better public health-care system.
2
:
in a few words
-
The movie was, in sum [=in short], entertaining as well as educational.
sum and substance
:
the general or basic meaning of something said or written
-
What is the sum and substance [=gist] of the argument?
sum of its parts
◊ Something that is greater/better/more than the sum of its parts is better or more effective as a team, combination, etc., than you would expect it to be when you look at the different parts that form it.
-
The team lacks standout players, but it has proved to be greater than the sum of its parts.
—
see also zero-sum game
2
sum
/ˈsʌm/
verb
sums;
summed;
summing
2
sum
/ˈsʌm/
verb
sums;
summed;
summing
Britannica Dictionary definition of SUM
sum up
[phrasal verb]
1
sum up
or
sum up (something)
or
sum (something) up
:
to tell (information) again using fewer words
:
to give a summary of (statements, facts, etc.)
:
summarize
-
I would like to take a moment to sum up the facts that I presented earlier.
-
She sums up the main arguments of the essay in the final paragraph.
-
The judge summed up the evidence in his speech to the jury.
-
To sum up, we need a better public health-care system.
2
sum up (someone or something)
or
sum (someone or something) up
a
:
to describe or show the most important parts or qualities of (someone or something) in a brief or simple way
-
The article nicely sums up her career.
-
That picture sums him up perfectly. [=that picture perfectly shows what kind of person he is]
b
:
to describe (someone or something) using few words
—
see also summing-up
-
The solution to the landfill problem can be summed up in one word: recycling.
-
The word “lazy” sums him up pretty well.
-
“So, you don't want to go because you think it will be boring?” “That just about sums it up.”
