binary

adj.

1. Characterized by or consisting of two parts or components; twofold.
2. Of or relating to a system of numeration having 2 as its base.
3. Chemistry. Consisting of or containing only molecules consisting of two kinds of atoms.
4. Of or employing two comparatively nontoxic chemicals that combine to produce a deadly poison: binary weapons; a binary nerve gas.
5. Music. Having two sections or subjects.

n., pl., -ries.
Something that is binary, especially a binary star.

[Middle English binarie, from Late Latin bīnārius, from Latin bīnī, two by two.]

Adjective describing a variable that can have only two possible values. The values are usually 0 and 1. The binary system is a system of counting using just these digits. In this system the decimal numbers 1, 2, 3, 4,..., 8,..., 16,..., 32,..., become 1, 10, 11, 100,..., 1  000,..., 10  000,..., 100  000,....

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Describing a compound or alloy formed from two elements.

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binary (BEYE-nuh-ree, BEYE-ner-ee)

Anything composed of two parts. In modern electronic 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.

Meaning two. The principle behind digital computers. All input to the computer is converted into binary numbers made up of the two digits 0 and 1 (bits). For example, when you press the "A" key on your keyboard, the keyboard circuit generates and transfers the number 01000001 to the computer's memory as a series of pulses with different voltages. The bits are stored as charged and uncharged memory cells or as microscopic magnets on disk and tape. Display screens and printers convert the binary numbers into visual characters.

Circuits Are Binary

The electronic circuits that process these binary numbers are also binary in concept. They are made up of on/off switches (transistors) that are electrically opened and closed. The current flowing through one switch turns on (or off) another switch, and so on. These switches open and close in nanoseconds and picoseconds (billionths and trillionths of a second). See Boolean logic.

Smaller Spots - Faster Switches

A computer's capability to do work is based on its workspace capacity (memory), storage capacity (disk) and the speed of its circuits. Greater memory and disk capacities are achieved by making the memory cell or magnetic spot smaller. Faster circuit speeds are achieved by shortening the time it takes to open and close the transistor (electronic switch). In order to increase computer performance, we keep improving binary technologies. See binary numbers, binary values, binary file, binary standard and binaries.

How Binary Numbers Work

Binary numbers are actually simpler than decimal numbers as they use only the digits 0 and 1 instead of 0 through 9.

In decimal, when you add 9 and 1, you get 10. But, if you break down the steps, you find that by adding 9 and 1, what you get first is a result of 0 and a carry of 1. The carry of 1 is added to the digits in the next position on the left. In the following example, the carry becomes part of the answer since there are no other digits in that position.

             carry--1
                     9
                  +  1
                  ____
                    10

The following example adds 1 ten times in succession. Note that the binary method has more carries than the decimal method. In binary, 1 and 1 are 0 with a carry of 1.

              Binary      Decimal

                 0           0

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
                 1           1

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
                10           2

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
                11           3

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
               100           4

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
               101           5

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
               110           6

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
               111           7

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
              1000           8

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
              1001           9

              +  1        +  1
              ____        ____
              1010          10

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A type of option product that allows an investor to set not only the conditions that need to be met in order to receive a desired payout, but also the size of the payout he or she wishes to receive if the conditions are met. The broker that provides this product will determine the likelihood that the conditions will be met and, in turn, will charge what it feels is an appropriate commission. This type of arrangement is often referred to as a "binary option" because only two types of payouts are possible for the investor:

1. The conditions set out by both parties occur, and the investor collects the agreed-upon payout amount.

2. The event does not occur and the investor loses the full premium paid to the broker.

Investopedia Says:
This type of option product is often found in the forex market. For example, if a trader believes that the EUR/USD will not break below 1.20 in 14 days, he or she would pay a certain premium to a broker and then collect the agreed upon payout in 14 days if this scenario turns out to be accurate. However, if the EUR/USD does break below 1.20, the investor will lose the full amount of the premium.

Related Links:
When economic data comes out, it can have a marked impact on the currency market. Find out how to profit. Trading On News Releases
Stocks are not the only securities underlying options--learn how to use FOREX options for profit and hedging. Getting Started In Forex Options

adjective

Composed of two parts or things: biform, double, dual, duple, duplex, duplicate, geminate, twofold. See part/whole.

[Etymology: Lat: ‘two’] Relating to anything having just two alternatives, or based on such (see below), in contrast with the steps of 10 and its powers for decimal and its compounds, of 12 for duodecimal, 16 for hexadecimal, 20 for vigesimal, 60 for sexagesimal, etc. In both the material and the electrical worlds, from the presence or absence of an item (e.g. a hole in a card, the on/off of electricity) to the north/south polarity of magnetism, the binary state is of widespread natural significance. Hence, although efforts to mimic decimal notation have been made, the binary state epitomizes computers, and hence the electromagnetic equivalents of binary notation are their normal internal form for representing numbers. The immediate compounds of binary are quaternary for steps of 4, octal for steps of 8, and hexadecimal for steps of 16.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - binær, tosidet, dobbelt
n. - binært tal

Nederlands (Dutch)
binair

Français (French)
adj. - binaire
n. - binaire

Deutsch (German)
adj. - binär, zweizählig, Doppel-
n. - binäre Zahl, Doppelstern

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - δυαδικός, διπλός, διττός
n. - δυαδικός αριθμός, διπλός αστέρας

Italiano (Italian)
binario

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - binário
n. - unidade (f) com duas partes, binário (m)

Русский (Russian)
двоичный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - binario, perteneciente o relativo al sistema binario, que consta de dos partes
n. - binario, total compuesto por dos partes, estrella binaria

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - binär, dubbel
n. - tvådelad form

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
二进位的, 二元的, 一双, 一对, 二进制数, 双体, 双子星

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 二進位的, 二元的
n. - 一雙, 一對, 二進位數字, 雙體, 雙子星

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 둘의, 이원의, 이진법의
n. - 이원체, 쌍성, 2진수

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 二つから成る, 二進の, 二元の

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) ثنائي, مزدوج (الاسم) رقم ثنائي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮של שניים, שניוני, זוגי, בינארי, כפול‬
n. - ‮מורכב משני חלקים, מספר בינארי (מבוסס על הספרות 1 ו-0 בלבד)‬

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binary clock