fractional

American  

[frak-shuh-nl] / ˈfræk ʃə nl /

Also fractionary

adjective

1. pertaining to fractions; comprising a part or the parts of a unit; constituting a fraction.

   fractional numbers.

2. comparatively small; inconsiderable or insignificant.

   The profit on the deal was fractional.

3. Chemistry. of or noting a process, as distillation, crystallization, or oxidation, by which the component substances of a mixture are separated according to differences in certain of their properties, as boiling point, critical temperature, or solubility.

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ˈfractional British  

/ ˈfrækʃənərI, ˈfrækʃənəl /

adjective

1. relating to, containing, or constituting one or more fractions

2. of or denoting a process in which components of a mixture are separated by exploiting differences in their physical properties, such as boiling points, solubility, etc

   fractional distillation

   fractional crystallization

3. very small or insignificant

4. broken up; fragmented

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Other Word Forms

• fractionally adverb
• subfractional adjective
• subfractionally adverb
• subfractionary adjective

Etymology

Origin of fractional

First recorded in 1665–75; fraction + -al ¹