Grades K-2 Math Glossary
TERM
DEFINITION
over
above
in, at, or to a higher place
To join two or more
numbers to get one
addition
number
A figure formed by two
line segments
EXAMPLE
angle
attribute
A characteristic of an
object such as color,
shape, size, etc.
A graph drawn using
rectangular bars to show
how large each value is.
The bars can be horizontal
or vertical.
bar graph
behind
below
beside
At, to, or toward the back
of something
Beneath; at a point or
position lower or further
down than
By or at the side of; near
•
•
•
•
•
array
•
•
•
•
•
A collection of objects,
pictures or numbers in
columns and rows
A shape with no sides and
no corners
circle
This is a picture of an
analog clock.
clock
An arrangement of
figures, one above the
other.
This is a column of
numbers:
column
12
25
17
92
14
In math, a set of objects
or numbers in any order.
combination
compose
To put basic elements
together (numbers or
shapes)
"My fruit salad is a combination of
apples, grapes and bananas" We
don't care what order the fruits are
in, they could also be "bananas,
grapes and apples" or "grapes,
apples and bananas", it’s the same
fruit salad.
300 + 40 + 9 ⇒ 349
"Composing"
A solid shape with a
circular base, a curved
surface, and one vertex
cone
count
count on
counting on
To name units of a group
one by one in order to
determine the total
number. Counting tells
how many things are in a
set.
A way to add
Adding on or counting to
determine a total number.
Example: Tell how many apples are
in the picture by counting on
beginning with the first apple.
A solid shape with six
square faces
cube
A line that is rounded
curve
cylinder
decompose
difference
digit
A solid shape with two
circular bases and a curved
surface
When you break a number
apart
The result when one
number is subtracted from
another.
Any of the symbols
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9.
349 ⇒ 300 + 40 + 9
"Decomposing"
Digital clock
A clock or watch that
shows the time using
numbers, not hands.
A coin valued at 10 cents
dime (coin)
dollar
double
equal sign
equal
A type of money valued at
100 pennies, 20 nickels, 10
dimes, or 4 quarters.
We usually see dollars in
bill or paper form.
The symbol for the dollar
is $.
Make twice as big. Multiply
by 2.
Having the same amount.
I have a combination of 2 quarters,
3 dimes, 1 nickel, and 15 pennies =
$1.
I can trade that combination of
coins for 1 dollar bill.
4 doubled is 8.
4 x 2 = 8.
=
4 equals 3 + 1 means that 4 is the
same amount as 3 + 1
Put 925 into Expanded Form
925 = 900 + 20 + 5
expanded form
faces
flat shape
greater than
greater than
sign
Any of the individual
surfaces of a solid object.
Having the dimensions of
height and width only (a
two-dimensional shape)
Greater than is used to
compare two numbers
when the first number is
larger than the second
number
7>5
>
group
half
half dollar
(coin)
half hour
A collection of pictures,
numbers or symbols
Either of two equal or
corresponding parts of a
whole
Coin which represents 50
cents
expression of time
meaning 30 minutes or at
the half hour mark on a
clock
half-circle
A plane shape with six
straight sides and six
vertices
hexagon
hour
in front of
larger
length
less
less than
Expression of time
meaning 60 minutes
In the forward part or
surface of something
More
A measure of how long
something is
Having a value that is not
as great as another value
Less than is used to
compare two numbers
when the first number is
5<7
smaller than the second
number
<
less than sign
line plot
longer
make 10
making ten
match
mental math
minus
minute
more of
next to
A line plot is a graph that
shows frequency of data
along a number line. It is
best to use a line plot
when comparing fewer
than 25 numbers. It is a
quick, simple way to
organize data.
A word used when
comparing the length of
two objects
A strategy that uses
combinations of numbers
that add up to ten
Combining numbers that
add up to ten
One-to-one
correspondence.
Mental math involves
solving mathematical
problems using only your
brain, with no help from
calculators or computers.
A symbol that shows
subtraction; take away a
quantity
Measurement of 60
seconds.
A greater quantity or
amount
A phrase that indicates
the location of an object;
nearest to in place or
position
7 + 2 + 1 make 10
I am making 10 when I combine 2, 2,
4, and 2
6–4=2
A coin valued at 5 cents.
nickel (coin)
a pictorial representation
of part-part-whole
relationships
number bond
Number Bond
A line with numbers placed
in their correct position.
number line
number names
number pair
Useful for addition and
subtraction, and for
showing relations between
numbers.
When numbers are spelled
out as words, they are
referred to as number
names.
Any set of two numbers
A coin valued at 1 cent.
penny (coin)
A plane shape with 5
straight sides and 5
vertices.
pentagon
5 + 3 = 8
The number name for 8 is eight.
The number name for 10,000 is ten
thousand.
A pictograph uses pictures
or symbols to show the
value of the data.
pictograph or
picture graph
A flat shape with four
straight sides.
quadrilateral
quarter (coin)
A coin valued at 25 cents.
One of four equal parts
Written as 1/4
quarter
(fraction)
A plane shape with 4 sides
and 4 square vertices.
rectangle
A 4-sided flat shape with
straight sides where all
sides have equal length.
rhombus
Also opposite sides are
parallel and opposite
angles are equal.
This circle is
divided into 4
equal parts. The
quarter (1/4) is
shaded.
It is a type of
parallelogram.
A solid (3-dimensional)
object which has six faces
that are rectangles.
rectangular
prism
row
short
sides
skip count
smaller
It is a prism because it
has the same cross-section
along a length.
An arrangement of objects
or numbers from left to
right.
Having little length or
height; not long or tall
One of the line segments
that makes a flat, twodimensional shape
"Skip Counting" is counting Skip Counting by 3’s:
by a number that is not 1
3,6,9,12,15,18,21, etc.
Having a size that is less
than that of another
object.
A shape that is not flat; an
object that has three
dimensions (height, length,
width)
solid shape
sort
To group or organize
according to shared
attributes
A solid shape with a
curved surface
sphere
Some people call the two
different forms
"Standard" and
"Expanded"
349
300 + 40 + 9
Expanded Form
Stan Standard Form
standard form
Take away, remove
If we start with 5 apples and take
away two, we are left with 3.
subtract
subtraction
sum
take away
taller
ten frame
Taking one number away
5–2=3
from another.
The answer to an addition
2+3=5
problem
To subtract
A word used when
comparing the height of
two objects
A model that is used to
show groups of 5 and 10.
It is filled out with dots or
other objects.
sum is 5
tens
Tens (place
value)
Sets of ten ones (10, 20,
30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90)
In a multi-digit whole
number, the digit just to
the left of the ones place
is said to be in the “tens
place.” A digit in the tens
place represents ten times
the value of the digit.
A solid shape that has
length, width, and height
three
dimensional
shape
trapezoid
triangle
A 4-sided flat shape with
straight sides that has a
pair of opposite sides
parallel.
A plane shape with 3
straight sides and 3
vertices
A plane, flat shape that
has length and width.
two dimensional
shape
How many ones. How many
single items.
Example: 27 has two tens and 7
units.
unit
unknown
value
Used to show the "ones" place value
(units, tens, hundreds, etc)
A number, unit or value we
do not know
The result of a calculation
3 + 4 results in the value of 12.
vertex
weight
A corner of a shape (plural
is vertices; “corners”)
A measure of how heavy
something is.
All of something.
Complete.
whole
zero
A whole pizza.
No objects; a cardinal
number indicating the
absence of all units.