Babbage

American  

[bab-ij] / ˈbæb ɪdʒ /

noun

1. Charles, 1792–1871, English mathematician: invented the precursor of the modern computer.

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Babbage British  

/ ˈbæbɪdʒ /

noun

1. Charles 1792–1871, English mathematician and inventor, who built a calculating machine that anticipated the modern electronic computer

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Babbage Scientific  

/ băb′ĭj /

1. British mathematician who is considered a pioneer of computer science. In 1837 Babbage described an idea for the analytical engine, a machine that could be programmed with punched cards to perform complex calculations. Although Babbage never finished building the analytical engine, his idea is recognized as the forerunner of the modern computer.

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Example Sentences

The author documents Tennyson’s reaction to books by the geologist Charles Lyell, the computer pioneer Charles Babbage and the astronomer John Herschel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Mr Babbage says he would also discourage victims from paying ransoms.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2025

In 1979 Hawking was appointed to the Lucasian professorship at Cambridge, a position previously occupied by Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage and Paul Dirac.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2021

Stenner conceived the project with Frances Babbage, professor of theatre at Sheffield University, as well as Terry O’Connor, an honorary professor at Sheffield University and one part of the experimental theatre ensemble Forced Entertainment.

From The Guardian • Jun. 25, 2019

Out of habit, she almost declared the book so she could get double points, but—thinking of Babbage poaching her books—she pulled her finger back from the mouse right before she clicked.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman