duodecimal

[doo-uh-des-uh-muh l, dyoo-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR duodecimal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to twelfths or to the number 12.

proceeding by twelves.

noun

one of a system of numbers based on the number 12.

one of 12 equal parts.

RELATED WORDS

twelfth, duodenary

Nearby words

Origin of duodecimal

1705–15; < Latin duodecim twelve + -al¹

Related formsdu·o·dec·i·mal·i·ty, noundu·o·dec·i·mal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for duodecimal

And at the very first in Egypt, Chalda, and among the Turanian races generally, we find this duodecimal system firmly established.
Human Origins|Samuel Laing
They learned to use both the decimal and the duodecimal systems (nowadays we use only the decimal system, which is a great pity).
Ancient Man|Hendrik Willem van Loon
Then came “the month of roses,” as the Persians appropriately style that duodecimal portion of the year.
She and I, Volume 1|John Conroy Hutcheson
Based on the duodecimal system, similarly introduced, as more logical, and more readily used.
The Last Evolution|John Wood Campbell

But what a pity that we have not 12 fingers, with duodecimal fractions instead of decimals!
A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume II (of II)|Augustus de Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for duodecimal

duodecimal

adjective

relating to twelve or twelfths

noun

a twelfth

one of the numbers used in a duodecimal number system

Derived Formsduodecimally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for duodecimal

duodecimal

adj.

1714, from Latin in duodecimo (see duodecimo).

Science definitions for duodecimal

duodecimal

[dōō′ə-dĕs′ə-məl]

Relating to or based on the number 12; having 12 as the base. In the duodecimal number system, each digit represents a multiple of a power of 12 instead of 10. Thus the duodecimal number 24 represents (2 X 121) + (4 X 120), or 28.