duodecimal
- adjective
- /ˌduːəˈdɛsɪməl/
- Specialized
:
duodecimal
- In mathematics, a duodecimal approach allows for base twelve calculations, differing from the common decimal system.
Examples
-
Sealock and Krzakwa were plugged into their duodecimal element, looking out through the exterior stereovidicon as if through their own eyes.
Fiction book (1990) -
This is a duodecimal element, kind of small, but it's got a lot of good conveyance properties so that we can run the ship's instrumentation.
Fiction book (1990) -
These principles are based on properties of the decimal system (and perhaps also to a limited extent the duodecimal and vigesimal systems) of counting, and on successive division by 2 in the case of principle 39.
Academic text (2006) -
The ancient Romans used a duodecimal system, which made counting in dozens more intuitive.
-
Some cultures still prefer a duodecimal method for measuring time, dividing the day into twelve parts.
Compounds
- Specialized
A single sign that shows a value from 0 to 11 in the base twelve number system
- Specialized
A way of writing numbers that uses twelve as its base and digits 0 to 11
- Specialized
A way of writing numbers that counts by twelve and uses twelve digits
Surface Forms
Morphology
duodecimal = duodeci + al
Formed from a Latin numeral combining form plus the adjectival suffix '-al'; the meaning 'based on twelve' can be inferred by analogy but the morpheme itself is not productive in everyday English.
Etymology
Duodecimal comes from the Latin duodecim 'twelve', from the parts duo 'two' and decem 'ten', and it is like the English word dozen or the word decimal but using twelve instead of ten. So a duodecimal system or measure uses twelve as its base, like a clock with twelve hours.
