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fraction definition

frac·tion (frak′s̸hən)

noun

  1. a breaking or dividing, specif., of the Host in the Mass
    1. a small part broken off; fragment; scrap
    2. a small part, amount, degree, etc.; portion
  3. Chem. a part separated by fractional crystallization, distillation, etc.
  4. Math.
    1. an indicated quotient of two whole numbers, as ,
    2. any quantity expressed in terms of a numerator and denominator, as x/y

Etymology: ME < L fractio, a breaking < pp. of frangere, break

transitive verb

to separate into fractions

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Did you know? 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 frctus is derived Late Latin frcti (stem frctin-), "a breaking" or "a breaking in pieces," as in the breaking of the Eucharistic Host.

Posted by anonymous 50 days ago.

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