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Revised 2001 More entries for mathematics

mathematicsnoun

What does the noun mathematics mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun mathematics. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is used in North American English.

mathematics has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

geometry (mid 1500s) astronomy (mid 1500s) optics (mid 1500s) mathematics (1860s)
See meaning & use

How common is the noun mathematics?

About 20occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency

How is the noun mathematics pronounced?

British English

/ˌmaθ(ə)ˈmatɪks/
math-uh-MAT-iks

U.S. English

/ˌmæθ(ə)ˈmædɪks/
math-uh-MAD-iks
See pronunciation

Where does the noun mathematics come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1500s

The earliest known use of the noun mathematics is in the mid 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for mathematics is from around 1545, in the writing of Christopher Langton, physician.

mathematics is formed within English, by conversion.

Etymons: mathematic adj.

See etymology

Nearby entries

  1. mathematical point, n.1659–
  2. mathematical programming, n.1953–
  3. mathematicaster, n.1644–
  4. mathematician, n.?a1475–
  5. mathematicism, n.1917–
  6. mathematicization, n.1938–
  7. mathematicize, v.1875–
  8. mathematicized, adj.1834–
  9. mathematicizing, adj.1849–
  10. mathematico-, comb. form
  11. mathematics, n.?1545–
  12. mathematist, n.1579
  13. mathematization, n.1908–
  14. mathematize, v.1719–
  15. mathematizing, adj.1962–
  16. mathemeg, n.1777–
  17. mathesis, n.a1475–
  18. mathetic, adj.1815–
  19. mathetico-, comb. form
  20. Mathieu, n.1915–
  21. mathlete, n.1933–
Browse more nearby entries