| a fraction whose denominator is some power of 10, usually indicated by a dot (decimal point or point) written before the numerator: as 0.4 = 4/10 ; 0.126 = 126/1000 . |
| decimal point n. A dot written in a decimal number, as in 8.375, to indicate the place where values change from positive to negative powers of 10. |
The point or dot placed to the left of decimals to separate them from the whole number portion of the decimal. When the number is spoken aloud, the word point is usually used to signify the decimal point. For example, “8.3” is read “eight point three.”