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fraction

fraction

192 3.4
A very small part of something
  • noun
  • /ˈfrækʃən/
translation icon : parte
  • This is just a small fraction of what we study.
  • only a fraction
  • small fraction
  • tiny fraction

Well, always pennies or fractions of pennies per view.

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Examples

  • Of the millions of living species, only a small fraction currently have direct economic importance.

    Academic text (1990)
  • I wish I had a fraction of her strength.

  • This is just a small fraction of what we study.

  • You should give whatever fraction seems right to you.

  • My students work themselves into the ground every day... just to get even a fraction closer to their goals.

  • It's just a small fraction of what's going on.

  • "When things are repeated," he reasons, "they lose a fraction of their meaning."

    Academic text (2017)
  • When things are repeated, they lose a fraction of their meaning.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Humans have shared the oceans with these animals for a mere fraction of their 450-million-year existence.

  • Even if it's only affecting a very small fraction of the population, it is real.

Synonyms

piece
vsfraction
1.0

A part broken or cut from something larger, like a bit of fruit

is a very small part rather than a general separated part
segment
vsfraction
501 3.0

A part of something that is separate from the whole, like a piece of an orange

is a very small part rather than a defined section
portion
vsfraction
449 2.1

A part of something that belongs to one person or group

is a very small part rather than an allotted share
fragment
vsfraction
184 3.2

A small piece broken off something larger

is a very small part but not necessarily broken off
proportion
vsfraction
  • Specialized
123 3.5

A part of a whole often shown as a fraction or ratio

names a very small part itself rather than a comparative relationship

Compounds

compound fraction
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A fraction whose top or bottom number is also a fraction

improper fraction
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A fraction with a top number equal to or larger than the bottom number

simple fraction
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A number that shows a part of a whole with whole numbers on top and bottom, like 3/4

complex fraction
  • Specialized
7.8

A number with a fraction in the top or bottom

common fraction
  • Specialized
2.3

A number written with two whole numbers separated by a line to show part of a whole, like 3/4

continued fraction
  • Specialized
9.2

A way to write a number as an integer plus one divided by another number repeated many times

decimal fraction
  • Specialized
3.0

A number that shows parts of a whole and uses a point with digits after it

proper fraction
  • Specialized
3.3

A fraction with a top number smaller than the bottom number

How Much

bulk
121 2.7
chunk
265 2.4
portion
449 2.1
fraction
192 3.4
bit
1.0
speck
66 1.3

Surface Forms

fraction singular
fractions plural

Morphology

fraction = fract + ion

Although the sense 'a small part' relates to the notion of 'breaking into parts', the morphemes are not productive standalone English words, so learners are unlikely to derive the meaning from the parts alone.

Etymology

Fraction comes from the Latin root fract meaning 'to break', the same root as fragment and fracture, so a fraction is a small 'broken' part or piece of a whole.