duodecimal

American  

[doo-uh-des-uh-muhl, dyoo-] / ˌdu əˈdɛs ə məl, ˌdyu- /

adjective

1. pertaining to twelfths or to the number 12.

2. proceeding by twelves.

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noun

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

2. one of 12 equal parts.

duodecimal British  

/ ˌdjuːəʊˈdɛsɪməl /

adjective

1. relating to twelve or twelfths

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noun

1. a twelfth

2. one of the numbers used in a duodecimal number system

duodecimal Scientific  

/ do̅o̅′ə-dĕs′ə-məl /

1. 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 × 12 ¹) + (4 × 12 ⁰), or 28.

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Other Word Forms

• duodecimality noun
• duodecimally adverb

Etymology

Origin of duodecimal

1705–15; < Latin duodecim twelve + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The jazz composer Bob Dorough wrote the banger-filled first season, “Multiplication Rock,” surveying a range of styles from the duodecimal prog-rock of “Little Twelvetoes” to the spiraling lullaby of “Figure Eight.”

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2023

Eventually, ancient Egyptian astronomers who used the duodecimal counting system, based on 12, divided the day and night into 12 hours each, giving us 24 hours in the day.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2022

He spent the rest of the war in prison, betrayed by his ignorance of the duodecimal currency.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2012

Then came “the month of roses,” as the Persians appropriately style that duodecimal portion of the year.

From She and I, Volume 1 by Hutcheson, John C. (John Conroy)

Cato's unit of 240 jugera was based on the duodecimal system of weights and measures which the Romans had originally derived from Babylon but afterwards modified by the use of a decimal system.

From Roman Farm Management The Treatises of Cato and Varro by Harrison, Fairfax