fractional

comparative more fractional · superlative most fractional

1. Pertaining to a fraction.
2. Divided; fragmentary; incomplete.

   Synonyms: partial, partite, demi-, semi-

3. Very small; minute.

   The two women exchanged a glance, then a fractional nod of agreement.

   1987, Bill Knox, A Flight from Paris, page 93

4. chemistryRelating to a process or product of fractional distillation.

plural fractionals

1. grammarAn expression of a fractional number.

   In English, most ordinals double as fractionals — "third", "fourth", and so on — with the exception of "second", whose corresponding fractional is "half".

2. Partial ownership of a property, such as real estate or a chartered airplane, such that each partial owner has use of the property for only a portion of the time.

   A fractional is much more expensive than a traditional timeshare, but to many people, it's worth it.

3. chemistryRelating to a fraction in a material distillation or separation process.