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vulgar fraction

American  

vulgar fraction British  

noun

  1. another name for simple fraction

"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

Etymology

Origin of vulgar fraction

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You've no right to call me a vulgar fraction.

From The Complete Plays of Gilbert and Sullivan by Gilbert, W. S. (William Schwenck), Sir

She perfectly scorned the best of his clan, and declared the ninth of any man, a perfectly vulgar fraction.

From The Art of Public Speaking by Carnagey, Dale

Expressed as a vulgar fraction it is 2/3; but as a decimal fraction it is .6666 ad infinitum.

From The Hidden Power And Other Papers upon Mental Science by Troward, T. (Thomas)

Quiggens, go 'way, Quiggens—you're of the common natur', Quiggens—a vulgar fraction, Quiggens; and you can't understand an indiwidooal who has a mind inside of his hat, and a whole soul packed away under his jacket.

From Graham's Magazine Vol. XXXII No. 2. February 1848 by Conrad, Robert Taylor

My grandmother sent me to school, but I looked at the master, and saw that he was a smooth, round ferule—or an improper noun—or a vulgar fraction, and refused to obey him.

From The Best American Humorous Short Stories by Poe, Edgar Allan