greatest common divisor

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noun

the largest number that is a common divisor of a given set of numbers. Abbreviation: G.C.D.

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Also called greatest common factor, highest common factor.

Origin of greatest common divisor

First recorded in 1920–25

Words nearby greatest common divisor

Greater Manchester, greater omentum, greater shearwater, Greater Sunda Islands, greatest, greatest common divisor, greatest good for the greatest number, greatest happiness for the greatest number, greatest happiness principle, greatest-integer function, greatest lower bound

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

How to use greatest common divisor in a sentence

The email appears to have been a relatively common attempt to gain personal information from a wide range of unwitting victims.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What had been the greatest asset of the paperback revolution,” observes Rabinowitz, “became its greatest danger.
How Pulp Fiction Saved Literature|Wendy Smith|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The vaccine is delivered through a “carrier virus” that causes a common cold in chimpanzees but does not affect humans.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine|Abby Haglage|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Another read: “We need leaders who will stand against Common Core.”
Rand Paul’s Passive-Aggressive Trolling Campaign|Olivia Nuzzi|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Who else would see a former spouse accused of underage sex and call him ‘the greatest man there is’?
Fergie Dives Into Prince Andrew’s Sex Scandal|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the greatest danger I ever underwent in that kingdom was from a monkey, who belonged to one of the clerks of the kitchen.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
The Smooth Naked Horsetail is a common plant, specially by the sides of streams and pools.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
I would ask you to imagine it translated into every language, a common material of understanding throughout all the world.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
But,” said the prime minister of Flatland, starting a difficulty, “who is to be greatest chief?
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Our social life is aimless without it, we are a crowd without a common understanding.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

British Dictionary definitions for greatest common divisor

greatest common divisor

noun

another name for highest common factor

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