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number crunching

number crunching

4 4.2
Doing long, complex calculations, often using a computer
  • noun
  • /ˈnʌmbər ˈkrʌnʧɪŋ/
translation icon : procesamiento de datos
  • The finance team spends hours on number crunching to ensure the budget is balanced and detailed.
  • a lot of number crunching
  • number crunching computers
  • number crunching exercise

I tend to use analytics and kind of hard number crunching and references to override that first impression.

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Examples

  • And although I mean, they also do number crunching on a level below that.

  • It's another chance to do less of the number-crunching work you hate to do.

    Blog text (17)
  • - Maybe after I do some number crunching.

  • I did a bit of number crunching to try to put that number in perspective.

    Blog text (14)
  • How quickly can major number-crunching happen on a complex data set in JavaScript?

    Blog text (21)
  • So the idea then is that it's just very effective to do number crunching digitally.

  • When we have finished a third observing season, we will have over 50 gigabytes of data, and the number-crunching will commence.

    Academic text (1996)
  • I assume that Reese, having a PhD in political science, is familiar with social science number-crunching.

    Blog text (21)
  • An economist with a laptop can, in a matter of seconds, do the kind of number crunching it used to take a roomful of Ph.D.s weeks to achieve.

    Blog text (27)
  • After inputting the data, the analyst began the serious number crunching needed to generate accurate forecasts.

Synonyms

calculation
vsnumber crunching
  • Specialized
203 2.8

Doing math to find an answer or the correct amount

is used for large time consuming numerical work often done by computers
computing
vsnumber crunching
38 3.3

The process of using computers or math to do calculations and solve problems

focuses on long complex numerical tasks rather than general problem solving
computation
vsnumber crunching
  • Specialized
21 4.1

A process of working with numbers to find an answer

focuses on long complex numerical tasks often done with computers

How Complex

number crunching
4 4.2
simulation
  • Specialized
199 4.7
model
  • Specialized
905 3.9
computation
  • Specialized
21 4.1
calculation
  • Specialized
203 2.8
arithmetic
  • Specialized
5 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

number + crunch

The phrase combines the transparent noun 'number' with a metaphorical use of 'crunch' that suggests intensive handling or processing, so the overall idea of intensely dealing with numbers is inferable. However, the specialized/computational sense of 'crunch' (to perform complex calculations) is a metaphorical extension that a B1 learner who only knows the literal meaning may not reliably predict or recognise without exposure.

Etymology

Number crunching may come from the image of a person or a machine crunching like chewing through piles of numbers and papers. That's why it now means 'doing long, hard calculations', often with a computer.