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fraction

/ˈfrækʃən/

/ˈfrækʃən/

Other forms: fractions; fractioning; fractioned

A fraction is a part of a whole. If two of you split the take from a bank heist, you would each get half. If you had a getaway driver, then the money would be split three ways, into fractions of one-third each.

The quotient of two numbers is called a fraction, as is the action of performing division. Most of us, however, think of a fraction as a small part of an item — as in: "You only use a fraction of your actual brain power in the course of your life." Just think of a whole as a pie, and a fraction as a slice of that pie.

Definitions of fraction
  1. noun
    a small part or item forming a piece of a whole
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    type of:
    part, portion
    something less than the whole of a human artifact
  2. noun
    the quotient of two rational numbers
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    types:
    show 33 types...
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    fixed-point part, mantissa
    the positive fractional part of the representation of a logarithm; in the expression log 643 = 2.808 the mantissa is .808
    common fraction, simple fraction
    the quotient of two integers
    improper fraction
    a fraction whose numerator is larger than the denominator
    proper fraction
    a fraction with a numerator smaller than the denominator
    complex fraction, compound fraction
    a fraction with fractions in the numerator or denominator
    continued fraction
    a fraction whose numerator is an integer and whose denominator is an integer plus a fraction whose numerator is an integer and whose denominator is an integer plus a fraction and so on
    decimal, decimal fraction
    a proper fraction whose denominator is a power of 10
    half, one-half
    one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
    one-third, third, tierce
    one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
    two-thirds
    two of three equal parts of a divisible whole
    fourth, fourth part, one-fourth, one-quarter, quarter, quartern, twenty-five percent
    one of four equal parts
    three-fourths, three-quarters
    three of four equal parts
    fifth, fifth part, one-fifth, twenty percent
    one part in five equal parts
    one-sixth, sixth
    one part in six equal parts
    one-seventh, seventh
    one part in seven equal parts
    eighth, one-eighth
    one part in eight equal parts
    ninth, one-ninth
    one part in nine equal parts
    one-tenth, ten percent, tenth, tenth part
    a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts
    duodecimal, one-twelfth, twelfth, twelfth part
    one part in twelve equal parts
    one-sixteenth, sixteenth, sixteenth part
    one part in sixteen equal parts
    one-thirty-second, thirty-second, thirty-second part
    one part in thirty-two equal parts
    one-sixtieth, sixtieth
    one part in sixty equal parts
    one-sixty-fourth, sixty-fourth
    one part in sixty-four equal parts
    hundredth, one percent, one-hundredth
    one part in a hundred equal parts
    one-thousandth, thousandth
    one part in a thousand equal parts
    one-ten-thousandth, ten-thousandth
    one part in ten thousand equal parts
    one-hundred-thousandth
    one part in a hundred thousand equal parts
    millionth, one-millionth
    one part in a million equal parts
    one-hundred-millionth
    one part in a hundred million equal parts
    billionth, one-billionth
    one part in a billion equal parts
    one-trillionth, trillionth
    one part in a trillion equal parts
    one-quadrillionth, quadrillionth
    one part in a quadrillion equal parts
    one-quintillionth, quintillionth
    one part in a quintillion equal parts
    type of:
    rational, rational number
    an integer or a fraction
  3. noun
    a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process
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    type of:
    chemical, chemical substance
    material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules
  4. verb
    perform a division
    synonyms: divide
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    Antonyms:
    multiply
    combine by multiplication
    types:
    halve
    divide by two; divide into halves
    quarter
    divide by four; divide into quarters
    type of:
    calculate, cipher, compute, cypher, figure, reckon, work out
    make a mathematical calculation or computation
Pronunciation
US

/ˈfrækʃən/

UK

/ˈfrækʃən/

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