rational

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Adjective 1.2.1.1 Antonyms 1.2.1.2 Related terms 1.2.1.3 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Translations 1.4 References

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: ră'sh(ə)nəl, IPA: /ˈræʃ(ə)nəl/, SAMPA: /"r{S(@)n@l/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old French rationel, rational < Latin rationalis (“‘of or belonging to reason, rational, reasonable’”) < ratio (“‘reason’”)

[edit] Adjective

rational (comparative more rational, superlative most rational)

1. Reasonable; not absurd, foolish, emotional, or fanciful.

   rational conduct

2. Capable of reasoning.

   Man is a rational creature.

3. (arithmetic, no comparative or superlative) Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.
4. (arithmetic, no comparative or superlative) Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.

[edit] Antonyms

• (reasonable): absurd, irrational, nonsensical
• (capable of reasoning): arational, irrational, non-rational
• (arithmetic): irrational

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

From Old French rational < Mediaeval Latin rationale (“‘a pontifical stole, a pallium, an ornament worn over the chasuble’”), neut. of Latin rationalis (“‘rational’”), for which see the first etymology.

[edit] Noun

rational (plural rationals)

1. (mathematics) Short of rational number; a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.

   The quotient of two rationals is again a rational.

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• rational in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• rational in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911