Definition of: fraction

(frak′shən) noun
1. A disconnected part; fragment; hence, a tiny bit.
2. Math. A quantity less than a unit, or one expressed as the sum of a number of aliquot parts of a unit. See list of principal kinds of fractions below.
3. Obs. The act of breaking.
4. A piece of land smaller than the standard unit of measurement.
5. Chem. One of the components separated from a substance by fractional distillation: Naphtha is a fraction of petroleum.
—v.t. To set or separate into fractions. See synonyms under PART. [<OF <L fractio, -onis <fractus, pp. of frangere break]
—common fraction
A fraction expressed by two numbers, a denominator, indicating the number of equal parts into which the unit is to be divided, and a numerator, indicating the number of those parts to be taken. Also called vulgar fraction.
—complex fraction
A fraction in which either the numerator or the denominator is a fraction. Also called compound fraction.
—continued fraction
A fraction whose denominator is another integer plus another fraction, and so on.
—decimal fraction
A fraction whose denominator is any power of 10 and which may be expressed in decimal form, as 7/10 (0.7), 3/100 (0.03), etc.
—improper fraction
A fraction in which the numerator exceeds the denominator.
—partial fraction
One of a set of fractions whose algebraic sum is a given fraction.
—proper fraction
A fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.
—similar fraction
Any of a group of fractions having a common denominator or the same number of decimal places.
—simple fraction
A fraction in which both numerator and denominator are integers.
—unit fraction
A fraction whose numerator is unity.