fraction

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Mathematics An expression that indicates the quotient of two quantities, such as ¹/₃ .
2. n. A disconnected piece; a fragment.
3. n. A small part; a bit: moved a fraction of a step.
4. n. A chemical component separated by fractionation.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The act of breaking, or the state of being broken, especially by violence; a breaking or fracture.
2. n. Specifically (ecclesiastical), the liturgical act of breaking or dividing the eucharistic bread, or host. Four such fractions are found in different liturgies at different points in the office, but all do not occur in any one liturgy, namely: A preparatory cutting or separation of portions at the beginning of the office or in the office of prothesis; a breaking at the word “brake” (fregit) in the institution; the solemn fraction after consecration and before communion; a division for distribution among the communicants.
3. n. A fragment; a separated portion; a disconnected part.
4. n. In mathematics: In arithmetic, a part, or a number of aliquot parts, of unity. Unity is regarded as divided into equal parts, and one or more of these parts as taken to constitute the fraction. The number of parts into which the unit is divided is termed the denominator, and the number of these parts taken the numerator. The denominator is commonly written below, and the numerator above, a horizontal or diagonal line: thus, 2/5, ⅞,½. Fractions written in this form are called common or vulgar fractions. (See decimal.) A proper fraction is one whose numerator is less than its denominator; an improper fraction, one whose numerator is greater than its denominator: as, 2/5, 17/8. A simple fraction expresses the ratio between two whole numbers: as,; a compound or complex fraction expresses the ratio between fractions (or mixed numbers), or between a fraction (or mixed number)and a whole number: as, Compound or complex fractions can always be reduced to simple fractions. A compound fraction is also defined as a fraction of a fraction. A fraction is said to be reduced to its lowest terms when the numerator and denominator contain no common factor.
5. n. In algebra, a ration of algebraic quantities analogous to the arithmetical vulgar fraction, and similarly expressed.
6. n. In mathematics: In geometry, any multiple of any submultiple of a magnitude.
7. n. In chem., one of the parts into which a substance is separated in the process of fractional distillation. See fractionation.
8. Same as fractionate.

Wiktionary

1. n. A part of a whole, especially a comparatively small part.
2. n. A ratio of two numbers, the numerator and the denominator, usually written one above the other and separated by a horizontal bar.
3. n. chemistry A component of a mixture, separated by fractionation.
4. n. In a eucharistic service, the breaking of the host.
5. n. A small amount.
6. v. To divide or break into fractions.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence.
2. n. A portion; a fragment.
3. n. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a unit or magnitude.
4. v. (Chem.) To separate by means of, or to subject to, fractional distillation or crystallization; to fractionate; -- frequently used with out.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a small part or item forming a piece of a whole
2. n. the quotient of two rational numbers
3. v. perform a division
4. n. a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process