fraction

Definitions


[ˈfrakʃn], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a numerical quantity that is not a whole number (e.g. 1/2, 0.5)

- a small or tiny part, amount, or proportion of something
(e.g: he hesitated for a fraction of a second)

- each of the portions into which a mixture may be separated according to a physical property such as boiling point or solubility
(e.g: the third fraction contain alcohols with boiling points of 120–130°C)

- (in the Christian Church) the breaking of the Eucharistic bread
(e.g: the Fraction may be accompanied by the Agnus Dei)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin fractio(n-) ‘breaking (bread)’, from Latin frangere ‘to break’




definition by Oxford Dictionaries