From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Fraction \Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking,
fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See {Break}.]
1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially
by violence. [Obs.]
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Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to
any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe.
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2. A portion; a fragment.
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Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson.
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3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or
whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a
unit or magnitude.
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{Common fraction}, or {Vulgar fraction}, a fraction in which
the number of equal parts into which the integer is
supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters,
called the denominator, written below a line, over which
is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts
included in the fraction; as 1/2, one half, 2/5, two
fifths.
{Complex fraction}, a fraction having a fraction or mixed
number in the numerator or denominator, or in both.
--Davies & Peck.
{Compound fraction}, a fraction of a fraction; two or more
fractions connected by of.
{Continued fraction}, {Decimal fraction}, {Partial fraction},
etc. See under {Continued}, {Decimal}, {Partial}, etc.
{Improper fraction}, a fraction in which the numerator is
greater than the denominator.
{Proper fraction}, a fraction in which the numerator is less
than the denominator.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Continued \Con*tin"ued\, p. p. & a.
Having extension of time, space, order of events, exertion of
energy, etc.; extended; protracted; uninterrupted; also,
resumed after interruption; extending through a succession of
issues, session, etc.; as, a continued story. "Continued
woe." --Jenyns. "Continued succession." --Locke.
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{Continued bass} (Mus.), a bass continued through an entire
piece of music, while the other parts of the harmony are
indicated by figures beneath the bass; the same as
thorough bass or figured bass; basso continuo. [It.]
{Continued fever} (Med.), a fever which presents no
interruption in its course.
{Continued fraction} (Math.), a fraction whose numerator is
1, and whose denominator is a whole number plus a fraction
whose numerator is 1 and whose denominator is a whole
number, plus a fraction, and so on.
{Continued proportion} (Math.), a proportion composed of two
or more equal ratios, in which the consequent of each
preceding ratio is the same with the antecedent of the
following one; as, 4 : 8 : 8 : 16 :: 16 : 32.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
continued fraction
n 1: a fraction whose numerator is an integer and whose
denominator is an integer plus a fraction whose numerator
is an integer and whose denominator is an integer plus a
fraction and so on
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