fraction

USFRAK-shuhn/ˈfɹæk.ʃən/

Pluralfractions

Verbfractions, fractioning, fractioned

8 meanings of fraction

Practice

1
nouncountable
A part of something larger, especially a small part of it.
Like one slice out of a whole pizza.
Only a small fraction of the class passed the test.
She spent just a fraction of her savings on the trip.
Similarportion, part, proportion, share, percentage
Oppositewhole, entirety
Note
2
nouncountable
A number that shows parts of a whole, like 1/2 or 3/4.
Like cutting a cake into equal pieces and counting how many you take.
We spent the whole lesson adding and subtracting fractions.
The fraction 3/4 is bigger than 1/2.
Note
3
nouncountable
A very small amount of something.
Like the tiny bit of juice left at the bottom of the glass.
He finished the race a fraction ahead of his rival.
The price dropped by just a fraction last week.
Similarbit, tad, touch, shade, hair
Note
4
verbtransitive
To break or split something into smaller parts.
Like cutting a loaf of bread into many slices.
The software can fraction a large file into smaller pieces.
They fractioned the land into many small plots.
Similardivide, split, partition, segment, separate
Oppositecombine, merge, unite
5
nouncountable
A part of a mixture that has been separated out from the rest.
Like separating sand from water and keeping each part on its own.
The lightest fraction rose to the top during heating.
Workers collected each fraction from the oil as it boiled off.
Similarcut, component, distillate
Note
6
verbtransitive
To separate a mixture into its different parts.
Like sorting mixed candy into separate piles by color.
The lab can fraction blood into plasma and cells.
Refineries fraction crude oil into fuels and other products.
Similarseparate, fractionate
7
noun
The breaking of the bread during a Christian communion service.
Like the moment a loaf is split so everyone can share a piece.
The priest paused at the fraction before sharing the bread.
During the fraction, the congregation watched in silence.
Note

Less common meaning

8
nounarchaic
The act of breaking something, or the broken state, especially by force.
Like the moment a dry twig snaps in two.
The fraction of the dam sent water rushing through the valley.
Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking.
1563, John Foxe, Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous DayesHere, fraction means breaking, being broken apart.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of fraction apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word came into Middle English as "fraccioun," meaning "a breaking," through Old French from Latin. The Latin word came from "frangere," meaning "to break."