IRRATIONAL

irrational

(adjective) not consistent with or using reason; “irrational fears”; “irrational animals”

irrational

(adjective) real but not expressible as the quotient of two integers; “irrational numbers”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

irrational (comparative more irrational, superlative most irrational)

Not rational; unfounded or nonsensical.

(mathematics, arithmetic, number theory, not comparable) Of a real number, that cannot be written as the ratio of two integers.

Antonym: rational

Hyponym: transcendental

Noun

irrational (plural irrationals)

A real number that can not be expressed as the quotient of two integers, an irrational number.

Source: Wiktionary


Ir*ra"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. irrationalis: cf. F. irrationnel. See In- not, and Rational.]

1. Not rational; void of reason or understanding; as, brutes are irrational animals.

2. Not according to reason; absurd; foolish. It seemed utterly irrational any longer to maintain it. I. Taylor.

3. (Math.)

Definition: Not capable of being exactly expressed by an integral number, or by a vulgar fraction; surd; -- said especially of roots. See Surd.

Syn.

– Absurd; foolish; preposterous; unreasonable; senseless. See Absurd.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

18 April 2025

GROIN

(noun) the crease at the junction of the inner part of the thigh with the trunk together with the adjacent region and often including the external genitals


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