decimal fraction

American  

[des-uh-muhl frak-shuhn, des-muhl] / ˈdɛs ə məl ˌfræk ʃən, ˈdɛs məl /

noun

Arithmetic.

1. a fraction whose denominator is some power of 10, usually indicated by a decimal point placed before the numerator, as 0.4 = 4/10; 0.126 = 126/1000.

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decimal fraction British  

noun

1. another name for decimal

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decimal fraction Scientific  

1. A decimal having no digits to the left of the decimal point except zero, such as 0.2 or 0.00354.

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Etymology

Origin of decimal fraction

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

decimal fraction

Even a 1-0 or 2-1 defeat to South Africa would see the victors go level on points with England, but above them by a decimal fraction.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 14, 2012

The race was nip-&-tuck; it was only by her decimal fraction that Mary Fontanna beat Gloria Miller of Pacific, Mo. Hoover & Garneld Sirs: I quote you from the irrepressible Walter Winchell's column of Sept.

From Time Magazine Archive

A mixed number, the fractional part of which is a decimal fraction, is expressed by writing the integral part in front of the point, which is called the decimal point.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

And the other was a frivolous system of pick-pocketing the Kansasters that had the department stores reduced to a decimal fraction.

From Rolling Stones by Henry, O.

We do all this consciously, in full statistical knowledge to a decimal fraction.

From Impressions and Comments by Ellis, Havelock