sum

sum n Sum, amount, number, aggregate, total, whole, quantity denote a result obtained by putting or taking together all in a given group or mass.

Sum denotes the result of simple addition, usually of figures, sometimes of particulars

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four is the sum of two and two

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Amount denotes the result reached by combining all the sums or weights or measures that form a whole

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the amount of his pur- chases

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the amount of cotton raised in one year

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Number, with its strong suggestion of enumerating, is usually applied to a countable aggregate of persons or things and is clearly distinct from amount, which ordinarily applies to things in bulk or mass; thus, one may pick a large number of apples to make a large amount of applesauce.

Aggregate denotes the result reached by counting and considering together all the distinct individuals or particulars in a group or collection

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though his errors are individually insignificant, their aggregate is so large as to destroy confidence in his accuracy

}

{

it is not true that a social force or effort is the mere aggregate of individual forces and efforts— Hobsony

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Total and whole suggest the completeness or inclusiveness of the result; total often further implies magnitude in the result, and whole, unity in what is summed up

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a grand total of ten millions

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{

the whole is the sum of its parts

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Quantity in general use is employed chiefly of things which are measured in bulk, even though they can be counted

{

a quantity of apples

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In technical and scientific use quantity is not limited to an aggregate or bulk but may be used of anything that is measurable in extent, duration, volume, magnitude, intensity, or value

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spatial quantity

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the quantity of a vowel

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electrical quantities

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quantity of heat

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quantity of work performed by a machine

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sum vb *add, total, tot, cast, figure, foot

Analogous words: compute, *calculate, estimate, reckon: *count, enumerate, number