numerator

noun

nu·​mer·​a·​tor ˈnü-mə-ˌrā-tər 

ˈnyü-

1

: the part of a fraction that is above the line and signifies the number to be divided by the denominator

2

: one that numbers

Examples of numerator in a Sentence

The numerator in the fraction 3/5 is 3.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the quantum theories that describe the real particles of our world put variables in the numerator too. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024

The amplitudes take the form of fractions, with a numerator above a denominator. —Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024

Figueiredo figured that the numerator could be the secret to finding the geometric underpinnings of more realistic particle interactions. —Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024

These are slight variations of the rule of 72, just using different numerators for the calculation. —Anna-Louise Jackson, wsj.com, 11 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French numerateur, borrowed from Late Latin numerātor "counter, enumerator," from Latin numerāre "to count, number entry 2" + -tor, agent suffix

Note: The Middle French word numerateur (modern numérateur) as a name for the part of a fraction above the line was probably introduced into European mathematical terminology by the mathematician Estienne de La Roche (ca. 1470-ca. 1530), who used it in Larismethique nouellement composee (Lyon, 1520). It is now known that La Roche adopted numerateur as well as denominateur denominator from an earlier mathematician of Lyon, Nicolas Chuquet (ca. 1445-55-1488 or later). Chuquet introduced the words in his Triparty en la science des nombres ("The Science of Numbers in Three Parts"), the manuscript of which dates to 1485, though it was not published until 1880.

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

numerator

noun

nu·​mer·​a·​tor ˈn(y)ü-mə-ˌrāt-ər 

1

: the part of a fraction that is above the line and signifies the number to be divided by the denominator

3 is the numerator of the fraction ⅗

2

: one that counts something