Binary definition

bīnə-rē
binaries
See word origin
Frequency:
Designating or of a number system in which the base used is two, each number being expressed in powers of two by using only two digits, specif. 0 and 1
adjective
15
7
(chemistry) Consisting of or containing only two kinds of atoms.
adjective
13
5
Made up of two parts or things; twofold; double.
adjective
17
11
Designating or of a musical form consisting of two closely related sections.
adjective
13
7
Being in a state of one of two mutually exclusive conditions such as on or off, true or false, molten or frozen, presence or absence of a signal.

Binary states are often represented as 1 and 0 in computer science.

adjective
7
1
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(mathematics, computing, uncountable) The bijective base-2 numeral system, which uses only the digits 0 and 1.
noun
4
0
(logic) Concerning logic whose subject matter concerns binary states.
adjective
3
0
(computing) Of data, consisting coded values not interpretable as plain or ASCII text.

He downloaded the binary distribution for Linux, then burned it to DVD.

adjective
3
0
Something made up of two parts or things.
noun
7
5
Having two parts.
7
5
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A binary star.
noun
6
4
(arithmetic, computing) Concerning numbers and calculations using the binary number system.
adjective
3
1
(mathematics, programming, computer engineering) Of an operation, function, procedure, or logic gate, taking exactly two operands, arguments, parameters, or inputs; having domain of dimension 2.

Division of reals is a binary operation.

adjective
3
1
Of or relating to a system of encoding data using only 0's and 1's.
adjective
2
0
2
1
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(computing) An executable computer file.
noun
2
1
(astronomy) A star system consisting of only two stars.
noun
2
1
(music) Having two sections or subjects.
adjective
1
0
Characterized by or consisting of two parts or components; twofold.
adjective
10
10
Having two equally important parts; related to something with two parts.

Two ingredients are combined in a binary poison.

A binary statistical distribution has only two categories.

adjective
2
2
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Of or relating to a system of numeration having 2 as its base.
adjective
1
1
A file that contains the executable version of a computer program.
noun
5
6
(chem.) Composed of two elements or radicals, or of one element and one radical.

Binary compounds.

adjective
3
4
The definition of binary is double or made up of two parts, or a number system where every number is expressed by 0 or 1 or a combination of them.

An example of something binary is a pair of glasses.

An example of a binary number system is one in which 1 0 0 0 means 2.

adjective
2
3
A number system having 2 as its base.
noun
2
3
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noun
2
3
(mathematics) Based on the number 2 or the binary number system.
2
3
Of or employing two comparatively nontoxic chemicals that combine to produce a deadly poison.

Binary weapons; a binary nerve gas.

adjective
1
3

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
binary
Plural:
binaries

Origin of binary

  • Middle English binarie from Late Latin bīnārius from Latin bīnī two by two dwo- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Late Latin bīnārius (“consisting of two”), from Latin bīnī (“two-by-two, pair”).

    From Wiktionary