decimal

[ des-uh-muhl, des-muhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to tenths or to the number 10.
2. proceeding by tens:

   a decimal system.

noun

1. decimal fraction.

decimal

/ ˈdɛsɪməl /

noun

1. Also calleddecimal fraction a fraction that has a denominator of a power of ten, the power depending on or deciding the decimal place. It is indicated by a decimal point to the left of the numerator, the denominator being omitted. Zeros are inserted between the point and the numerator, if necessary, to obtain the correct decimal place
2. any number used in the decimal system

adjective

1. 1. relating to or using powers of ten
   2. of the base ten
2. prenominal expressed as a decimal

decimal

/ dĕs′ə-məl /

1. A representation of a real number using the base ten and decimal notation, such as 201.4, 3.89, or 0.0006.
2. A decimal fraction.

Derived Forms

• ˈdecimally, adverb

Other Words From

• deci·mal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of decimal¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Medieval Latin decimālis “of tenths,” equivalent to Latin decim(a) “tenth” (derivative of decem “ten” ) + -ālis adjective suffix; ten, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of decimal¹

C17: from Medieval Latin decimālis of tithes, from Latin decima a tenth, from decem ten

Example Sentences

Although electronic chip timers record runners' completed laps, the unfinished final loop is measured - to three decimal places - by a race adjudicator with a wheel straight from a 1990s PE lesson.

From BBC

The shared inconvenience grew into a community on Reddit, where people swap tips, such as entering the address as a decimal — 101.5 Main Street — or spelling it out as Hogan does.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite the ridiculous smallness of this constant -- expressed in everyday units of kilograms, metres and seconds it takes a value that starts at the 34th decimal place after the comma -- the fact that Planck's constant is not exactly zero is enough to compute such quantum effects.

From Science Daily

Many people use 3.14159, but even that’s not quite right, because the digits to the right of the decimal point in pi go on forever.

From NewsForKids.net

Long before computers, historic scientists such as Isaac Newton spent many hours calculating decimal places by hand.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• figure
• statistic
• sum
• total