English Explanatory Dictionary

fraction

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A part of a whole, especially a comparatively small part.
  2. A ratio of two numbers (numerator and denominator), usually written one above the other and separated by a horizontal bar called the vinculum or, alternatively, in sequence on the same line and separated by a solidus (diagonal bar).
  3. A component of a mixture, separated by fractionation.
  4. In a eucharistic service, the breaking of the host.
  5. A small amount.
  6. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence.
verb
  1. To divide or break into fractions.
  2. To fractionate.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

frăkʹshən /ˈfɹæk.ʃən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-fraction.wav

Word forms

fraction fractions fractioning fractioned

Etymology

Etymology tree Middle English fraccioun English fraction From Middle English fraccioun (“a breaking”), from Anglo-Norman, Old French fraccion, from Medieval Latin fractio (“a fragment, portion”), from earlier Latin fractio (“a breaking, a breaking into pieces”), from fractus, past participle of frangere (“to break”) (whence English frangible), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (English break). Doublet of frazione.

Synonyms

fraction

Related words

fractal fractious fracture fragile fragileness fragility fragment frail frailness frailty frangibility frangible frangibleness infract infraction infrangibility infrangible infrangibleness infringe infringeable infringee infringement infringer infringest noninfringement refract refraction refractive refractory refrangible refringent division rational number quotient ratio rate portion part Appendix:Numbers Appendix:Unicode/Number Forms Appendix:English numerals § Fractions Appendix:Roget MICRA thesaurus/Class I § 100a. Fraction :Category:English fractional numbers

Derived words

abfraction biofraction case fraction common fraction complex fraction continued fraction continued-fraction decimal fraction dyadic fraction Egyptian fraction ejection fraction Euler's continued fraction formula field of fractions finite continued fraction fractile fractionable fractional fractional calculus fractional distillation fractional ideal fractionalism fractionalist fractionality fractionalization fractionalize fractionalizing fractionally fractional reserve banking fractionary fractionate fractionation fractionator fraction bar fractionise fractionization fractionize fractionner fraction slash general continued fraction generalized continued fraction glycofraction hypofraction improper fraction infinite continued fraction interfraction intrafraction mass fraction microfraction mixed fraction mole fraction oligofraction ordinal fraction partial fraction partial fraction decomposition partial fraction expansion periodic continued fraction proper fraction regular continued fraction representative fraction simple continued fraction
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