decimal

[ des-uh-muhl, des-muhl ]
See synonyms for: decimaldecimals on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. pertaining to tenths or to the number 10.

  2. proceeding by tens: a decimal system.

Origin of decimal

1
First recorded in 1600–10; from Medieval Latin decimālis “of tenths,” equivalent to Latin decim(a) “tenth” (derivative of decem “ten” ) + -ālis adjective suffix; see ten, -al1

Other words from decimal

  • dec·i·mal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby decimal

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How to use decimal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for decimal

decimal

/ (ˈdɛsɪməl) /


noun
  1. Also called: decimal fraction a fraction that has a denominator of a power of ten, the power depending on or deciding the decimal place. It is indicated by a decimal point to the left of the numerator, the denominator being omitted. Zeros are inserted between the point and the numerator, if necessary, to obtain the correct decimal place

  2. any number used in the decimal system

adjective
    • relating to or using powers of ten

    • of the base ten

  1. (prenominal) expressed as a decimal

Origin of decimal

1
C17: from Medieval Latin decimālis of tithes, from Latin decima a tenth, from decem ten

Derived forms of decimal

  • decimally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for decimal

decimal

[ dĕsə-məl ]


  1. A representation of a real number using the base ten and decimal notation, such as 201.4, 3.89, or 0.0006.

  2. A decimal fraction.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.