fractional

[ frak-shuh-nl ]
/ ˈfræk ʃə nl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR fractional ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Words nearby fractional

fracs, fractable, fractal, fracted, fraction, fractional, fractional crystallization, fractional currency, fractional distillation, fractional orbital bombardment system, fractionalize

Words related to fractionally

moderately, partly, somewhat, halfway, piecemeal

Example sentences from the Web for fractionally

  • Let us suppose that on this same given day the majority of tokens distributed are all fractionally larger than normal.

    "To Invade New York...." |Irwin Lewis

  • The solution is fractionally distilled, using a special form of distilling column.

    The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 1 |Various

  • The young man hesitated, fractionally, struck with the rattletrap's supreme lack of dignity.

    Angela's Business |Henry Sydnor Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for fractionally

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