fraction

[ frak-shuhn ]

/ ˈfræk ʃən /

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See synonyms for: fraction / fractions on Thesaurus.com

noun

Mathematics.

a number usually expressed in the form a/b.
a ratio of algebraic quantities similarly expressed.

Chemistry. (in a volatile mixture) a component whose range of boiling point temperatures allows it to be separated from other components by fractionation.

a part as distinct from the whole of anything; portion or section: The meeting started with a fraction of us present.

a very small part or segment of anything; minute portion: Only a fraction of the work was completed on time.

a very small amount; a little bit: It was only a fraction away from completion.

a piece broken off; fragment or bit.

the act of breaking.

Ecclesiastical. (in a Eucharistic service) the breaking of the Host.

verb (used with or without object)

to divide or break into fractions, sections, factions, etc.: Dissension threatens to fraction the powerful union.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of fraction

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fraccioun, from Late Latin frāctiōn- (stem of frāctiō) “a breaking (in pieces),” equivalent to Latin frāct(us) (past participle of frangere “to break, shatter”; see break) + -iōn--ion

synonym study for fraction

3, 6. See part.

OTHER WORDS FROM fraction

sub·frac·tion, noun

Words nearby fraction

FRACP, FRACS, fractable, fractal, fracted, fraction, fractional, fractional crystallization, fractional currency, fractional distillation, fractionalize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT FRACTION

What does fraction mean?

A fraction is any part separated or distinct from its whole, as in After the party, just a fraction of the large cake was left.

A fraction can also be a very small part of a whole, as in We only understand a fraction of how the human mind works.

In mathematics, fraction is a number that is expressed as a proportion, as 1/2 or 2/3. The number on the bottom represents the total number of parts of one unit, while the number on the top is the portion of the unit being considered. For example, in 1/2 the 2 represents two halves of one whole and the 1 represents the amount of parts being observed, in this case one.

To fraction means to divide into sections or fractions, as in Politics often fractions people into self-interested groups.

Example: That announcement is only a fraction of what’s in store tonight.

Where does fraction come from?

The first records of the term fraction come from the mid-1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin frāctiōn– meaning “a breaking into pieces.” Fraction can be used as a verb meaning “to shatter or break into a piece.”

When organizations fall apart, you might hear that they fraction off their assets or departments. These fractions can either become their own businesses, as with a large company fractioning off departments, or can be sold to other companies, as with the materials owned by the fractioning company.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to fraction?

fractional (adjective)
subfraction (noun)

What are some synonyms for fraction?

What are some words that share a root or word element with fraction?

What are some words that often get used in discussing fraction?

How is fraction used in real life?

While fraction is most often used in the mathematical sense, it’s also used more loosely to refer to pieces that are of undefined size.

adding fractions began my math downfall

— queen quen (@quenblackwell) October 23, 2018

"it's a frightening thought that in one fraction of a moment you can fall in the kind of love that takes a lifetime to get over"

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) March 20, 2015

wish i woke up with just a fraction of the energy of a guy who found out he’s not the father on maury

— Matt Bellassai (@MattBellassai) April 30, 2018

Try using fraction!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for fraction?

A. part
B. segment
C. piece
D. all

How to use fraction in a sentence

As a result, Phobos appears large enough to blot out a large fraction of the sun as seen from the surface of Mars.
These Images Expose the Dark Side of the Solar System - Issue 89: The Dark Side|Corey S. Powell|August 26, 2020|Nautilus
She and her colleagues used a model that compared fantasy players’ win fractions during the first half of a series of competitions against their win fractions over the second half.
The Economics of Sports Gambling (Ep. 388 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|August 20, 2020|Freakonomics
China’s gross savings rate, as a fraction of its gross domestic product, dropped from a peak of 52 percent in 2008 to 46 percent in 2018, while India’s fell from 37 percent in 2007 to 30 percent in 2018.
Could the Recession Revive the Savings Gene in China and India?|Pallabi Munsi|August 16, 2020|Ozy
There’s a precise way in which a matching Set triple can be thought of as an arithmetic progression, and just as with lists of whole numbers, you can ask what fraction of the cards you must lay down to be sure of finding at least one triple.
Landmark Math Proof Clears Hurdle in Top Erdős Conjecture|Erica Klarreich|August 3, 2020|Quanta Magazine

Since 77 is an odd number, we cannot reduce this fraction to have a lower power of 2 in the denominator, so 5 or 6 generations will not work.
How to Design (or at Least Model) Mixed Dog Breeds|Pradeep Mutalik|July 31, 2020|Quanta Magazine
The judges who handle arraignments at criminal court in all five boroughs have a small fraction of their usual caseloads.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Twitter mentions: 20,000, but still a tiny fraction of what was to come.
How the World Turned on Bill Cosby: A Day-by-Day Account|Scott Porch|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, on the contrary, only a fraction of this country, a part which I would call the best of Italy, is against the Mafia.
Days of Mafia Mayhem Are Wracking Italy Once Again|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It has a third of the budget and a fraction of the maritime vessels.
Britain’s Let-Em-All-Die Policy|Nico Hines, Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While it provides only a small fraction of the power used—about 1.5 percent—it does represent an important investment and symbol.
Charging Up|The Daily Beast|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The beauty, the mystery,—this fierce sunshine or something—stir——' She hesitated for a fraction of a second.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
We can thus disregard the first 16 and consider only the last two figures which constitute the fraction of a century.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
"I've got one-fraction of an inch play, at any rate," said the garboard-strake, triumphantly.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
Joseph had mentally spent his tiny fraction of the money a dozen times or more.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Before turning up the eleventh card he paused for the fraction of a second.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for fraction

fraction

/ (ˈfrækʃən) /

noun

maths

a ratio of two expressions or numbers other than zero
any rational number that is not an integer

any part or subdivisiona substantial fraction of the nation

a small piece; fragment

chem a component of a mixture separated by a fractional process, such as fractional distillation

Christianity the formal breaking of the bread in Communion

the act of breaking

verb

(tr) to divide

Word Origin for fraction

C14: from Late Latin fractiō a breaking into pieces, from Latin fractus broken, from frangere to break

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

Scientific definitions for fraction

fraction

[ frăk′shən ]

A number that compares part of an object or a set with the whole, especially the quotient of two whole numbers written in the form ab. The fraction 12, which means 1 divided by 2, can represent such things as 10 pencils out of a box of 20, or 50 cents out of a dollar. See also decimal fraction improper fraction proper fraction.

A chemical component separated by fractionation.

Cultural definitions for fraction

fraction

A mathematical expression representing the division of one whole number by another. Usually written as two numbers separated by a horizontal or diagonal line, fractions are also used to indicate a part of a whole number or a ratio between two numbers. Fractions may have a value of less than one, as with 1/2, or equal to one, as with 2/2, or more than one, as with 3/2. The top number of a fraction is the numerator and the bottom number is the denominator.

fraction

Origin of fraction

synonym study for fraction

OTHER WORDS FROM fraction

Words nearby fraction

MORE ABOUT FRACTION

What does fraction mean?

Where does fraction come from?

Did you know … ?

How is fraction used in real life?

Try using fraction!

Words related to fraction

How to use fraction in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fraction

Word Origin for fraction

Scientific definitions for fraction

Cultural definitions for fraction