Centesimal Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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centesimal

[หˆsษ›nหˆtษ›sษชmษ™l ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

mathematics

Relating to or divided into hundredths.

Examples of usage

  • The centesimal scale is used to measure angles in surveying.
  • The centesimal division is commonly used for precise scientific measurements.
Context #2 | Adjective

measurement

Divided into 100 equal parts.

Examples of usage

  • The centesimal system is based on units of one hundred.
  • The thermometer had a centesimal scale for accurate temperature readings.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Mathematics

  • In math, a centesimal refers to any unit that represents one part of a hundred, such as in percentages.
  • When you divide a whole into hundred parts and express portions, youโ€™re dealing with centesimal values.
  • Centesimals are crucial in creating scales, like measuring distillations in chemistry.

Cultural References

  • The concept of dividing into hundreds can be seen in the creation of percentage-based voting systems.
  • In art and color theory, some techniques use centesimal proportions for blending colors effectively.
  • The metric system, widely used around the world, incorporates centesimal divisions for clarity and uniformity in measurements.

Science

  • In biology, centesimal dilution helps in measuring the concentration of substances in experiments.
  • Centesimals are important in pharmacology for determining dosages in relation to body weight.
  • The concept also applies in statistics, where percentiles categorize data based on centesimal divisions.

History

  • Historically, many ancient civilizations used base-100 systems for trade and organization.
  • The centesimal system laid the groundwork for modern accounting practices during the Renaissance.
  • In different cultures, from the ancient Mayans to the Romans, the use of hundreds helped in record-keeping and mathematics.

Origin of 'centesimal'

Main points about word origin

  • 'Centesimal' comes from the Latin 'centesimus', meaning 'hundredth'.
  • The prefix 'cent-' traces back to the Latin word for 'hundred', showing its historical roots.
  • Centesimal is often used in mathematics and measurement systems, highlighting its importance in these fields.

The word 'centesimal' originates from the Latin word 'centesimus' meaning 'hundredth'. It first appeared in English in the early 19th century. The term is commonly used in mathematics and measurements to refer to divisions into hundredths or units of one hundred.


See also: cent, centenary, centennial, centre, centum, century.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,203, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.