- Fraction
- 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.]
[1913 Webster]
Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe. [1913 Webster]
2. A portion; a fragment. [1913 Webster]
Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
{Common fraction}, 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.