| 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 . |
dec·i·mal  (děs'ə-məl)  n.
[Medieval Latin decimālis, of tenths or tithes, from Latin decima, a tenth part or tithe, from decem, ten; see dek  in Indo-European roots.]dec'i·mal·ly adv. |
| decimal fraction
A decimal having no digits to the left of the decimal point except zero, such as 0.2 or 0.00354. |
