Calculation is the process of using mathematics to figure something out. When you do a calculation, you might add numbers to find a total, multiply to figure out an area, or subtract to see how much money you have left. Scientists use calculations to predict when a comet will appear in the night sky. Engineers use calculations to make sure a bridge can hold the weight of traffic. Even something as simple as figuring out if you have enough allowance money to buy a video game involves calculation.

The word can also describe careful planning that considers all the angles. A chess player makes calculations several moves ahead, thinking through what might happen if she moves her knight here versus there. When someone acts with calculation, they're being deliberate and strategic, weighing their options before choosing. This isn't always negative: a careful student might make calculations about how to budget study time across different subjects.

However, when someone is described as calculating, it often suggests they're coldly manipulating situations for their own benefit, caring more about winning than about being fair or kind. A calculated risk means you've thought carefully about the dangers before deciding to try something challenging.