Webster's English Dictionary

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fraction

frac.tion \'frak-sh*n\ n [ME fraccioun, fr. LL fraction-, fractio act of 
   breaking, fr.] L fractus, pp. of frangere to break - more at BREAK 1a: a 
   numerical representation (as 3/4, 5/8, 3.234)  of two numbers whose 
   quotient is to be determined 1b1: a piece broken off : FRAGMENT  1b2: 
   PORTION, SECTION  archaic  2a: RUPTURE, BREAK  2b: DISCORD  3: one of 
   several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation