资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Fraction \Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking,
   fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See {Break}.]
   1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially
      by violence. [Obs.]

            Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to
            any fraction or breaking up.          --Foxe.

   2. A portion; a fragment.

            Some niggard fractions of an hour.    --Tennyson.

   3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or
      whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a
      unit or magnitude.

   {Common, or Vulgar}, {fraction}, a fraction in which the
      number of equal parts into which the integer is supposed
      to be divided is indicated by figures or letters, called
      the denominator, written below a line, over which is the
      numerator, indicating the number of these parts included
      in the fraction; as 1/2, one half, 2/5, two fifths.

   {Complex fraction}, a fraction having a fraction or mixed
      number in the numerator or denominator, or in both.
      --Davies & Peck.

   {Compound fraction}, a fraction of a fraction; two or more
      fractions connected by of.

   {Continued fraction}, {Decimal fraction}, {Partial fraction},
      etc. See under {Continued}, {Decimal}, {Partial}, etc.

   {Improper fraction}, a fraction in which the numerator is
      greater than the denominator.

   {Proper fraction}, a fraction in which the numerator is less
      than the denominator.