rational

rational

synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples & translations of rational in English

English Online Dictionary. What means rational‎? What does rational mean?

English

Alternative forms

  • rationall (obsolete)

Pronunciation

  • enPR: ră'sh(ə)nəl, IPA(key): /ˈɹæʃ(ə)nəl/
  • Rhymes: -æʃənəl

Etymology 1

From Old French rationel, rational, from Latin rationalis (of or belonging to reason, rational, reasonable; having a ratio), from ratio (reason; calculation).

Adjective

rational (comparative more rational, superlative most rational)

  1. Capable of reasoning.
  2. Logically sound; not self-contradictory or otherwise absurd.
    • 1812 The Freethinking Christians' Magazine: Volume 2 p. 21
      Prevention for the future is now almost universally allowed to be the only rational plea for the infliction of punishment; but this, when left to the arbitrary discretion of individuals, always has been found, and always will be found, to degenerate into the exercise of revenge for the past.
  3. (of a person or personal characteristics) Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness.
    • 1867 C. Handfield Jones, Case Of Low Fever: Delirium: Incomplete Dementia. The British Medical Journal Vol. 2, No. 344, Aug. 3
      Temperature 99.8 degrees. Pulse 104. She was quite conscious and rational at times, at others very noisy.
  4. (mathematics, arithmetic, number theory, not comparable) Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.
    ¾ is a rational number, but √2 is an irrational number.
  5. (mathematics, arithmetic, not comparable) Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.
  6. (chemistry) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; said of formulae.
  7. (physics) Expressing a physical object.
Antonyms
  • (reasonable): absurd, irrational, nonsensical, arbitrary
  • (capable of reasoning): arational, irrational, non-rational
  • (number theory): irrational
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Noun

rational (plural rationals)

  1. (mathematics) A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.
    The quotient of two rationals is again a rational.
Translations

Etymology 2

From Old French rational, from Medieval Latin rationale (a pontifical stole, a pallium, an ornament worn over the chasuble), neuter of Latin rationalis (rational), for which see the first etymology. Translation of λογεῖον (logeîon) or perhaps λόγιον (lógion, oracle) in the Septuagint version of Exodus 28.

Noun

rational (plural rationals)

  1. (historical) The breastplate worn by Israelite high priests.
Translations

References

  • “rational”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
  • “rational”, in The Century Dictionary [], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Further reading

  • "rational" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 252.

Anagrams

  • notarial

French

Pronunciation

Noun

rational f (plural rationaux)

  1. rationale (religious clothing)

Further reading

  • “rational”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin rationalis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˌʁat͡si̯oˈnaːl]
  • Hyphenation: ra‧ti‧o‧nal

Adjective

rational (strong nominative masculine singular rationaler, comparative rationaler, superlative am rationalsten)

  1. rational

Declension

Further reading

  • “rational” in Duden online
  • “rational” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Bookmark
share
WebDictionary.net is an Free English Dictionary containing information about the meaning, synonyms, antonyms, definitions, translations, etymology and more.

Related Words

Browse the English Dictionary

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

License

This article based on an article on Wiktionary. The list of authors can be seen in the page history there. The original work has been modified. This article is distributed under the terms of this license.