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

This discovery could also help explain cosmic events like supernova explosions and gravitational waves, since binaries containing one or more of these compact dead stars are thought to be the origin of such phenomena.

From Science Daily

The media and punditry’s other problem is their need to reduce social groups into simple binaries and abstractions that can provide a clean narrative but impose an incorrect logic on how America’s polity votes.

From Salon

Now they number ten and are around "80% non binary or other".

From BBC

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

In fact, one of the driving forces behind right-wing populism and authoritarianism is that it’s a reaction to the breakdown of these binaries and the social changes that have resulted.

From Salon