Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a finger or toe.
- the breadth of a finger used as a unit of linear measure, usually equal to 3/4 inch (2 cm).
- any of the Arabic figures of 1 through 9 and 0.
- any of the symbols of other number systems, as 0 or 1 in the binary.
- index(def 6).
- Astronomy. the twelfth part of the sun’s or moon’s diameter: used to express the magnitude of an eclipse.
noun
- a finger or toe
- Also called: figure any of the ten Arabic numerals from 0 to 9
- another name for finger (def. 4)
- astronomy one twelfth of the diameter of the sun or moon, used to express the magnitude of an eclipse
late 14c., “numeral below 10,” from Latin digitus “finger or toe” (also with secondary meanings dealing in counting and numerals), related to dicere “tell, say, point out” (see diction). Numerical sense is because numerals under 10 were counted on fingers. The “finger or toe” sense in English is attested from 1640s.
n.
- A finger or toe; dactyl.
- Anatomy A jointed body part at the end of the limbs of many vertebrates. The limbs of primates end in five digits, while the limbs of horses end in a single digit that terminates in a hoof. The fingers and toes are digits in humans.
- Mathematics One of the ten Arabic numerals, 0 through 9.