decimal

n.

1. A linear array of digits that represents a real number, every decimal place indicating a multiple of a negative power of 10. For example, the decimal 0.1 = ¹/₁₀, 0.12 = ¹²/₁₀₀, 0.003 = ³/₁₀₀₀. Also called decimal fraction.
2. A number written using the base 10.

adj.

1. Expressed or expressible as a decimal.
2. 1. Based on 10.
   2. Numbered or ordered by groups of 10.

[Medieval Latin decimālis, of tenths or tithes, from Latin decima, a tenth part or tithe, from decem, ten.]

decimally dec'i·mal·ly adv.

Meaning 10. The numbering system used by humans, which is based on 10 digits. In contrast, computers use binary numbers because it is easier to design electronic systems that can maintain two states rather than 10.

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your iPhone/iTouch

With divisor/multiplier steps of 10 between units, in contrast with the steps of 2 and its powers for binary and its compounds, of 12 for duodecimal, of 16 for hexadecimal, of 20 for vigesimal, and of 60 for sexagesimal, etc. The original metric system of the 1790s made decimal scaling usual in Europe, though it had then been usual in China for a thousand years. The SI system, although nominally decimal through its metric heritage, is largely millesimal, i.e. in steps of 1 000. Steps of 100 are centesimal.

Fractional numbers (see fraction) expressed as whole numbers of tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on. One-half, for example, is 0.5 in decimal terms.

IN BRIEF: Based on the number ten; numbered or ordered by 10.

A decimal system uses the number 10 as its basic unit of measurement.

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - titals-, decimal-
n. - decimal, decimalbrøk

idioms:

• decimal fraction    decimalbrøk
• decimal place    decimalplads
• decimal point    decimalkomma

Nederlands (Dutch)
decimaal (getal), tientallig, tiendelig

Français (French)
adj. - décimal
n. - décimale

idioms:

• decimal fraction    fraction décimale
• decimal place    décimale, chiffre après la virgule
• decimal point    point décimal

Deutsch (German)
n. - Dezimalzahl, Dezimale, Dezimalstelle
adj. - Dezimal-, dezimal, dekadisch, Zehner-

idioms:

• decimal fraction    Dezimalbruch
• decimal place    Dezimale
• decimal point    Komma

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - δεκαδικό κλάσμα
adj. - (μαθημ.) δεκαδικός, (του) δεκαδικού συστήματος

idioms:

• decimal fraction    (μαθημ.) δεκαδικό κλάσμα
• decimal place    (μαθημ.) θέση υποδιαστολής
• decimal point    (μαθημ.) υποδιαστολή

Italiano (Italian)
decimale

idioms:

• decimal place    posto decimale
• decimal point    punto decimale

Português (Portuguese)
n. - decimal (m)
adj. - decimal

idioms:

• decimal fraction    fração (f) decimal
• decimal place    casa (f) decimal
• decimal point    vírgula (f) (decimal) (Mat.)

Русский (Russian)
десятичный

idioms:

• decimal fraction    фракция десятичной дроби
• decimal place    число после запятой
• decimal point    запятая в дробных числах

Español (Spanish)
adj. - decimal
n. - decimal

idioms:

• decimal fraction    fracción decimal
• decimal place    lugar del decimal
• decimal point    coma decimal

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - decimal
adj. - decimal-

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
十进位的, 小数的, 小数

idioms:

• decimal fraction    小数
• decimal place    小数点后位数
• decimal point    小数点

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 十進位的, 小數的
n. - 小數

idioms:

• decimal fraction    小數
• decimal place    小數點後位數
• decimal point    小數點

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 십진법의, 소수의
n. - 소수

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 小数
adj. - 10進法の, 小数の

idioms:

• decimal fraction    小数
• decimal place    小数位, 小数点以下の桁数
• decimal point    小数点

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) أي رقم ذو كسر عشري أو مئوي (صفه) عشري‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮עשרוני‬
n. - ‮שבר עשרוני‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.