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(), n.[F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking, fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break.] 1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence. [Obs.] Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up. Foxe. 2. A portion; a fragment. Some niggard fractions of an hour. Tennyson. 3. (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. Common, or Vulgar, fraction, a fraction in which the number of equal parts into which the integer is supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters, called the denominator, written below a line, over which is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts included in the fraction; as , one half, 2/5, two fifths. Complex fraction, a fraction having a fraction or mixed number in the numerator or denominator, or in both. Davies & Peck. Compound fraction, a fraction of a fraction; two or more fractions connected by of Frac"tion v. t.(Chem.) To separate by means of, or to subject to, fractional distillation or crystallization; to fractionate; -- frequently used with out; as, to fraction out a certain grade of oil from pretroleum. スポンサード リンク
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