binary

[ bahy-nuh-ree, -ner-ee ]
/ ˈbaɪ nə ri, -nɛr i /

adjective

noun, plural bi·na·ries.

Origin of binary

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin bīnārius, equivalent to bīn(ī) (see bin-) + -ārius -ary

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH binary

binary bindery

Words nearby binary

bin laden, osama, bin liner, bin-, binal, binarity, binary, binary cell, binary code, binary coded decimal, binary color, binary digit

British Dictionary definitions for binary number (1 of 2)

binary number

noun

a number expressed in binary notation, as 1101.101 = 1 × 2³ + 1 × 2² + 0 × 2 1 + 1 × 2 0 + 1 × 2 – 1 + 0 × 2 – ² + 1 × 2 – ³ = 13 5/8

British Dictionary definitions for binary number (2 of 2)

binary
/ (ˈbaɪnərɪ) /

adjective

noun plural -ries

Word Origin for binary

C16: from Late Latin bīnārius; see bin-

Medical definitions for binary number

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 number

binary
[ bī′nə-rē ]

Having two parts.
Mathematics Based on the number 2 or the binary number system.

Cultural definitions for binary number

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.