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Glite Dictionary
octal notation

octal notation

8.2
A number system that uses eight digits 0 to 7
  • noun
  • /ˈɑktəl noʊˈteɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : notación octal
  • The number 10 in octal notation is equal to 8 in decimal notation.

Examples

  • In computer programming, file permissions are often expressed in octal notation.

  • Early digital computers sometimes used octal notation for memory addressing.

  • The computer uses octal notation for certain calculations.

  • Can you explain octal notation to me?

  • In computer programming, file permissions are often expressed in octal notation.

  • The number 10 in octal notation is equal to 8 in decimal notation.

  • Early digital computers sometimes used octal notation for memory addressing.

Synonyms

octal number system
vsoctal notation
  • Specialized
7.7

A way to write numbers using eight digits 0 to 7

means the same but uses an alternative phrasing or label
octal numeration system
vsoctal notation
  • Specialized
6.8

A way of writing numbers that counts in groups of eight using the digits 0 to 7

means the same but is expressed with a different phrase

Surface Forms

octal notation singular
octal notations plural

Morphology

octal + notation

The meaning is directly derivable from its parts: 'octal' specifies base‑eight and 'notation' denotes a system of symbols, so together they denote a base‑eight number system. This is a regular compositional compound (common across languages) and, assuming the learner knows both constituents, a B1 learner can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Octal notation comes from octal, a word that means 'eight', and notation, which is a way of writing numbers. So it refers to the number system that uses eight digits, from 0 to 7.