fraction definition | Dictionary.com

frac⋅tion

[frak-shuh

–noun

Mathematics.

a.	a number usually expressed in the form a/b.

b.	a ratio of algebraic quantities similarly expressed.

2.	Chemistry. (in a volatile mixture) a component whose range of boiling point temperatures allows it to be separated from other components by fractionation.

3.	a part as distinct from the whole of anything; portion or section: The meeting started with a fraction of us present.

4.	a very small part or segment of anything; minute portion: Only a fraction of the work was completed on time.

5.	a very small amount; a little bit: It was only a fraction away from completion.

6.	a piece broken off; fragment or bit.

7.	the act of breaking.

8.	Ecclesiastical. (in a Eucharistic service) the breaking of the Host.

–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)

9.	to divide or break into fractions, sections, factions, etc.: Dissension threatens to fraction the powerful union.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME fraccioun < LL frāctiōn- (s. of frāctiō) a breaking (in pieces), equiv. to L frāct(us) (ptp. of frangere to break ) + -iōn- -ion

Synonyms:
3, 6. See part.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To fraction

frac·tion (frāk'shən)

Mathematics An expression that indicates the quotient of two quantities, such as ¹/₃ .
A disconnected piece; a fragment.
A small part; a bit: moved a fraction of a step.
A chemical component separated by fractionation.

[Middle English fraccioun, a breaking, from Anglo-Norman, from Late Latin frāctiō, frāctiōn-, from Latin frāctus, past participle of frangere, to break; see bhreg- in Indo-European roots.]

Word History: Our word fraction did not originally have a mathematical sense. It goes back ultimately to the Latin verb frangere, "to break." From the stem of the past participle frāctus is derived Late Latin frāctiō (stem frāctiōn-), "a breaking" or "a breaking in pieces," as in the breaking of the Eucharistic Host. In Medieval Latin the word frāctiō developed its mathematical sense, which was taken into Middle English along with the word. The earliest recorded sense of our word is "an aliquot part of a unit, a fraction or subdivision," found in a work by Chaucer written about 1400. One of the next recorded instances of the word recalls its origins, referring to the "brekying or fraccioun" of a bone.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Fraction

Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking, fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break.]

1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence. [Obs.]

Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe.

2. A portion; a fragment.

Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson.

3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a unit or magnitude.

Common, or Vulgar, fraction, a fraction in which the number of equal parts into which the integer is supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters, called the denominator, written below a line, over which is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts included in the fraction; as 1/2, one half, 2/5, two fifths.

Complex fraction, a fraction having a fraction or mixed number in the numerator or denominator, or in both. --Davies & Peck.

Compound fraction, a fraction of a fraction; two or more fractions connected by of.

Continued fraction, Decimal fraction, Partial fraction, etc. See under Continued, Decimal, Partial, etc.

Improper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is greater than the denominator.

Proper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.

Fraction

Frac"tion\, v. t. (Chem.) To separate by means of, or to subject to, fractional distillation or crystallization; to fractionate; -- frequently used with out; as, to fraction out a certain grade of oil from pretroleum.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : fraction

Spanish: fracción,

German: der Bruch,

Japanese: 分数

More Translations »

fraction

A mathematical expression representing the division of one whole number by another. Usually written as two numbers separated by a horizontal or diagonal line, fractions are also used to indicate a part of a whole number or a ratio between two numbers. Fractions may have a value of less than one, as with 1/2, or equal to one, as with 2/2, or more than one, as with 3/2. The top number of a fraction is the numerator and the bottom number is the denominator.

fraction

1391, from L.L. fractionem (nom. fractio) "a breaking," especially into pieces, from root of L. frangere (pt. fregi) "to break," from PIE base *bhr(e)g- (cf. Skt. (giri)-bhraj "breaking-forth (out of the mountains);" Goth. brikan, O.E. brecan "to break;" Lith. brasketi "crash, crack;" O.Ir. braigim "break" wind). Mathematical sense was the original one in Eng. Sense of "broken off piece, fragment," is from 1606.

Main Entry: frac·tion
Pronunciation: 'frak-sh&n
Function: noun
: one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation fraction of blood plasma>

fraction frac·tion (frāk'shən)
n.

An expression that indicates the quotient of two quantities.
A chemical component separated by fractionation.
A disconnected piece; a fragment.
An aliquot portion or any portion.

fraction (frāk'shən) Pronunciation Key

A number that compares part of an object or a set with the whole, especially the quotient of two whole numbers written in the form ^a/_b . The fraction ¹/₂ , which means 1 divided by 2, can represent such things as 10 pencils out of a box of 20, or 50 cents out of a dollar. See also decimal fraction , improper fraction , proper fraction.
A chemical component separated by fractionation.

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