Fraction word meaning and definition

[noun] a small part or item forming a piece of a whole
[noun] the quotient of two rational numbers
[noun] a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process
[verb] perform a division; "Can you divide 49 by seven?"

\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.] Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe. 2. A portion; a fragment. Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson. 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. {Common, 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.
\Frac"tion\, v. t. (Chem.) To separate by means of, or to subject to, fractional distillation or crystallization; to fractionate; -- frequently used with out; as, to fraction out a certain grade of oil from pretroleum.

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