fraction

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A small part of something larger.

   Only a small fraction of the students passed the difficult exam.

2. 2
   noun

   A number that expresses part of a whole, such as 1/2 or 3/4.

   The teacher showed the class how to add two fractions together.

3. 3
   noun

   A very small amount.

   She finished the race a fraction faster than her rival.

Etymology tree Middle English fraccioun English fraction From Middle English fraccioun (“a breaking”), from Anglo-Norman, Old French fraccion, from Medieval Latin fractio (“a fragment, portion”), from earlier Latin fractio (“a breaking, a breaking into pieces”), from fractus, past participle of frangere (“to break”) (whence English frangible), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (English break). Doublet of frazione.

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