# fraction

/ˈfɹækʃən/ (US) · /fɹˈækʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fraction
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a small part

noun · CEFR B1

a very small part or amount of something.

For teachers: a small or tiny portion of a larger whole.

- The new machine uses only a fraction of the energy that the old one did.
- The company managed to reduce its carbon emissions to a mere fraction of their previous levels within a single fiscal year.

### 2. mathematics

noun · CEFR B1

a number that results from dividing one whole number by another, like 1/2 or 3/4.

For teachers: a numerical representation of a part of a whole, consisting of a numerator and a denominator.

- The teacher asked the students to convert the fraction into a decimal.
- In advanced algebra, students must learn to manipulate complex fractions where both the numerator and denominator contain variables.

### 3. chemistry

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

one part of a mixture that has been separated from the rest.

For teachers: a distinct component of a mixture separated through a process such as distillation or fractionation.

- Gasoline is just one fraction obtained from refining crude oil.
- The laboratory technician isolated the volatile fraction of the essential oil using steam distillation to ensure the purity of the sample.

Usage: Often used in the context of oil refining or laboratory separation.

### 4. to separate

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to break or divide something into smaller parts.

For teachers: to divide or separate a substance or quantity into its constituent parts.

- The mixture must be fractioned carefully to keep the chemicals pure.
- The crude oil is fractioned in large towers where different temperatures allow various gases and liquids to be collected separately.

## Examples

- Only a small fraction of the students failed the test.
- The company managed to reduce its energy costs by a significant fraction after installing solar panels.
- During the refining process, crude oil is separated into different fractions based on their boiling points, allowing for the production of gasoline, kerosene, and diesel.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.