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decimal digit

decimal digit

1.0
A symbol from 0 to 9 used to write numbers
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛsɪməl ˈdɪdʒɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : dígito decimal
  • Children learn to identify decimal digits through exercises involving counting and number formation.
  • two decimal digits

Examples

  • The science is settled, except for the nth decimal digit.

    Blog text (25)
  • Format the field for two decimal digits by right-clicking the AvgOfEmailResponse field, selecting Properties, selecting Fixed, and closing the Field Properties screen.

    Academic text (2001)
  • To make the values show two decimal digits, right-click in the ResponseInHours field, select Properties, select Format, select Fixed from the pulldown menu, and close the Field Properties window.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Not a whole number, pi instead has an unlimited succession of nonrepeating decimal digits; when truncated to include every Arabic numeral, pi looks like 34.1283.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Select OK to close the expression builder. Format the EmailResponse field for two decimal digits by right-clicking the EmailResponse field, selecting Properties, selecting Fixed, and closing the Field Properties screen. Save and run the query.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The number 254 contains three decimal digits: 2, 5, and 4.

  • In the decimal system, each place value represents ten times the value of the digit to its right.

Synonyms

digit
vsdecimal digit
194 1.0

One of the symbols zero to nine used to write numbers

is limited to those numerals when used specifically in decimal notation
Arabic numeral
vsdecimal digit
1 1.0

A symbol from 0 to 9 used to write numbers

has identical meaning but uses a different name for the same symbols

Surface Forms

decimal digit singular

Morphology

decimal + digit

The meaning 'any of the digits from 0 to 9 used in decimal notation' is directly and compositionally derived from 'decimal' (base-ten system) + 'digit' (a numeral); a learner who knows both constituents can combine them to understand the phrase. This modifier + noun pattern is a standard, cross-linguistically common construction, so it will be immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Decimal digit comes from counting with hands: decimal means 'ten' and digit originally meant 'finger', because people used their ten fingers to count the symbols 0 to 9. That's why a decimal digit is one of the ten symbols used in 'decimal' numbers.