binary
[ bahy-nuh-ree, -ner-ee ]
/ ˈbaɪ nə ri, -nɛr i /
adjective
noun, plural bi·na·ries.
Origin of binary
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH binary
binary binderyWords nearby binary
Example sentences from the Web for binary
British Dictionary definitions for binary
binary
/ (ˈbaɪnərɪ) /
adjective
noun plural -ries
Word Origin for binary
C16: from Late Latin
bīnārius; see
bin-
Medical definitions for binary
binary
[ bī′nə-rē ]
adj.
Characterized by or consisting of two parts or components; twofold.
Consisting of or containing only molecules having two kinds of atoms.
Scientific definitions for binary
binary
[ bī′nə-rē ]
Having two parts.
Mathematics
Based on the number 2 or the binary number system.
Cultural definitions for binary
binary
[ (beye-nuh-ree, beye-ner-ee) ]
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.