fractional

[ frak-shuh-nl ]
/ ˈfræk ʃə nl /

adjective

pertaining to fractions; comprising a part or the parts of a unit; constituting a fraction: fractional numbers.
comparatively small; inconsiderable or insignificant: The profit on the deal was fractional.
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.
Also frac·tion·ar·y [frak-shuh-ner-ee] /ˈfræk ʃəˌnɛr i/.

Origin of fractional

First recorded in 1665–75; fraction + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM fractional

frac·tion·al·ly, adverb sub·frac·tion·al, adjective sub·frac·tion·al·ly, adverb sub·frac·tion·ar·y, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for fractional

British Dictionary definitions for fractional

fractional

fractionary (ˈfrækʃənərI)

/ (ˈfrækʃənəl) /

adjective

relating to, containing, or constituting one or more fractions
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
very small or insignificant
broken up; fragmented

Derived forms of fractional

fractionally, adverb