binary

[ bahy-nuh-ree, -ner-ee ]

adjective

1. consisting of, indicating, or involving two.
2. Mathematics.
   1. of or relating to a system of numerical notation to the base 2, in which each place of a number, expressed as 0 or 1, corresponds to a power of 2. The decimal number 58 appears as 111010 in binary notation, since 58 = 1 × 2 5 + 1 × 2 4 + 1 × 2 3 + 0 × 2 2 + 1 × 2 1 + 0 × 2 0 .
   2. of or relating to the digits or numbers used in binary notation.
   3. of or relating to a binary system.
   4. (of an operation) assigning a third quantity to two given quantities, as in the addition of two numbers.
3. Computers. of, relating to, or written in binary code; programmed or encoded using only the digits 0 and 1:

   All executable programs on the computer are stored in binary files.

4. Chemistry. noting a compound containing only two elements or groups, as sodium chloride, methyl bromide, or methyl hydroxide.
5. Metallurgy. (of an alloy) having two principal constituents.

noun

, plural bi·na·ries.

1. a whole composed of two.
2. Mathematics. a system of numerical notation to the base 2, in which each place of a number, expressed as 0 or 1, corresponds to a power of 2:

   to convert decimal to binary.

3. Also called binary number. Mathematics. a number expressed in the binary system of notation.
4. Computers. binary code.
5. Computers. an executable file stored in binary format.
6. Astronomy. binary star.

binary

/ ˈbaɪnərɪ /

adjective

1. composed of, relating to, or involving two; dual
2. maths computing of, relating to, or expressed in binary notation or binary code
3. (of a compound or molecule) containing atoms of two different elements
4. metallurgy (of an alloy) consisting of two components or phases
5. (of an educational system) consisting of two parallel forms of education such as the grammar school and the secondary modern in Britain
6. maths logic (of a relation, expression, or operation) applying to two elements of its domain; having two argument places; dyadic

noun

1. something composed of two parts or things
2. astronomy See binary star
3. short for binary weapon

binary

/ bī′nə-rē /

1. Having two parts.
2. Mathematics.
   Based on the number 2 or the binary number system.

binary

1. Anything composed of two parts. In modern computers, information is stored in banks of components that act like switches. Since switches can be either on or off, they have a binary character, and we say that the computer uses “binary arithmetic” to do its work.

Word History and Origins

Origin of binary¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin bīnārius, equivalent to bīn(ī) ( bin- ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of binary¹

C16: from Late Latin bīnārius ; see bin-

Example Sentences

I don’t lack the imagination to conceive of a different world, one in which our grand democratic process isn’t whittled down to a binary choice—but I know that the gulf between what should be reality and what is reality remains vast, and so it is without hesitation that I swallow the acrid pill of pragmatism and hope that enough fellow voters do the same.

From Slate

While contemplating this depressing binary in the race’s final days, I’ve been thinking about how we got here.

From Slate

Ultimately, there is no binary.

From Slate

But given that Harris will carry the District of Columbia, where I live, by at least 30 points, the “It’s a binary choice!” arguments leave me cold.

From Los Angeles Times

You can use those binary measurements, like tackles made, distance run or sprints and it tells you one thing about him - but not everything.

From BBC