vinculum

[ ving-kyuh-luhm ]

noun

, plural vin·cu·la [ving, -ky, uh, -l, uh].

1. a bond signifying union or unity; tie.
2. Mathematics. a stroke or brace drawn over a quantity consisting of several members or terms, as , in order to show that they are to be considered together.

vinculum

/ ˈvɪŋkjʊləm /

noun

1. a horizontal line drawn above a group of mathematical terms, used as an alternative to parentheses in mathematical expressions, as in x + y – z which is equivalent to x + ( y – z )
2. anatomy
   1. any bandlike structure, esp one uniting two or more parts
   2. another name for ligament
3. rare.
   a unifying bond; tie

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinculum¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from Latin: “fetter,” equivalent to vinc(īre) “to bind” + -ulum -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinculum¹

C17: from Latin: bond, from vincīre to bind

Example Sentences

A vinculum usually has little to do with division; it’s used in fractions and to group together numbers just as parentheses are.

From Slate

You might expect 10 ÷ 5 is the same as 10/5 is the same as 10 over a 5 with a vinculum between them, but each has its own eccentricities.

From Slate

But it gets really tricky when people assume that a slash replaces a vinculum.

From Slate

Where plus or minus signs occur in the numerator or denominator, brackets or a vinculum is used.—Tr.

From Project Gutenberg

Again, Benedict XIV. in that Breve is speaking de duplici gradu consanguinitatis, not de secundo gradu, and states that a dispensation would be null, in the petition for which only one vinculum was expressed, whereas there existed two—duplex vinculum.

From Project Gutenberg