summation
/sʌˈmeɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · [səmˈeʃən] /sʌˈmeɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · [səmˈeʃən] /(ˌ)sə-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce summation (audio)/ (ame, mw)
summation — noun
- summationsingular
- summationsplural
1. A short statement or piece of writing that presents the most important points of
A short statement or piece of writing that presents the most important points of a topic without covering every detail.
The professor asked each student to write a one-page summation of the main ideas from the lecture.
collocation: a summation of [topic]
In her report, Yara included a brief summation of the key findings from the year-long study.
collocation: brief summation
The newspaper printed a short summation of the debate, highlighting the arguments from each side.
Before the meeting ended, the chairperson gave a quick summation of the points everyone had agreed on.
Benjamin's summation of the novel helped the book club members understand the plot more clearly.
用法筆記
Often used with a prepositional phrase introduced by 'of' that specifies what is being summarized.
常見錯誤
2. Something that draws together various features or qualities to give a full pictu
Something that draws together various features or qualities to give a full picture that captures the nature of a person, place, or thing.
The old market was a vivid summation of the city's diverse culture and long history.
collocation: a [adjective] summation of [abstract noun]
To many visitors, the garden stands as a perfect summation of traditional Japanese landscape design.
Tamar felt that her art collection was a living summation of her travels and the people she had met.
That single photograph became a moving summation of the entire festival, capturing joy, colour, and community in one frame.
- embodiment
more natural for describing a person who represents a quality
- epitome
suggests the perfect or most typical example of a quality
- quintessence
formal; the purest or most typical form of something
- cross-section
emphasises variety rather than condensation; a representative sample
用法筆記
This sense is figurative and formal. The subject is typically an object, place, or work of art that represents something larger. Not used for people in everyday speech — 'embodiment' or 'epitome' is more natural for describing a person.
常見錯誤
3. During the final stage of a court case, a lawyer or judge addresses the jury to
During the final stage of a court case, a lawyer or judge addresses the jury to restate the main facts and arguments before the jury makes its decision.
The defence lawyer delivered a powerful summation that made the jury reconsider the evidence.
collocation: deliver a summation
During her summation, the prosecutor reminded the jury of the timeline presented by the key witnesses.
preposition: during [possessive] summation
Haruto took careful notes while the judge gave the final summation, listing the questions the jury should answer.
After Chidi finished his summation, the jury left the courtroom to begin their private discussion.
The newspaper reported that the longest summation in the trial lasted nearly three hours on the final day.
- closing argument
the standard term in US court procedure; interchangeable with 'summation'
- closing statement
slightly less formal than 'summation'; used in both legal and non-legal contexts
- final address
formal term, especially in British and Commonwealth courts
- opening statement
the speech lawyers give at the start of a trial to outline their case
用法筆記
Commonly used in American legal contexts. In British courts, the term 'closing speech' or 'final speech' is more frequent. The jury listens to the summation before leaving to reach a verdict.
常見錯誤
4. The mathematical operation of counting several quantities together to determine
The mathematical operation of counting several quantities together to determine their combined value.
Ezra taught his younger sister the basic method of summation using a simple column of numbers.
collocation: method of summation
The children practised the summation of fractions with different denominators under the teacher's careful guidance.
structure: summation of [mathematical items]
In the exam, students had to show each step of the summation to receive full marks for the calculation.
The software can handle the summation of a long series of numbers in just a few seconds.
In the summation of the annual sales figures, every region's contribution was added to the final total.
- subtraction
the opposite mathematical operation of taking away
- deduction
the act of subtracting an amount
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the method or act of adding, not the result. If you mean the final number, use Sense 5 ('the total'). In mathematics, 'addition' is far more common than 'summation' for everyday use.
常見錯誤
5. The final number, quantity, or amount that results when two or more numbers have
The final number, quantity, or amount that results when two or more numbers have been added together.
The summation of all the donations reached over five thousand dollars by the end of the week.
structure: the summation of [items] + reaches [amount]
Yara double-checked the summation of the monthly expenses before sending the report to her manager.
The summation of votes from all districts gave a clear winner in the local election.
After adding the costs of materials, labour, and transport, the summation came to just under ten thousand dollars.
The accountant presented the summation of the company's quarterly income at the board meeting.
用法筆記
Distinguish from Sense 4: this sense refers to the resulting number (the 'answer'), not the act of adding. 'Total' and 'sum' are much more common in everyday language for the same meaning.