RATIONAL

rational

(adjective) having its source in or being guided by the intellect (as distinguished from experience or emotion); “a rational analysis”

intellectual, rational, noetic

(adjective) of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind; “intellectual problems”; “the triumph of the rational over the animal side of man”

rational

(adjective) consistent with or based on or using reason; “rational behavior”; “a process of rational inference”; “rational thought”

rational

(adjective) capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers; “rational numbers”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Adjective

rational (comparative more rational, superlative most rational)

Capable of reasoning.

Logically sound; not contradictory or otherwise absurd.

(of a person or personal characteristics) Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness.

(mathematics, arithmetic, number theory, not comparable) Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.

(mathematics, arithmetic, not comparable) Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.

(chemistry) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; said of formulae.

(physics) Expressing a physical object.

Antonyms

• (reasonable): absurd, irrational, nonsensical

• (capable of reasoning): arational, irrational, non-rational

• (number theory): irrational

Noun

rational (plural rationals)

(mathematics) A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.

Etymology 2

Noun

rational (plural rationals)

(historical) The breastplate worn by Israelite high priests.

Anagrams

• notarial

Source: Wiktionary


Ra"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. rationalis: cf. F. rationnel. See Ratio, Reason, and cf. Rationale.]

1. Relating to reason; not physical; mental. Moral philosophy was his chiefest end; for the rational, the natural, and mathematics . . . were but simple pastimes in comparison of the other. Sir T. North.

2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason or understanding; reasoning. It is our glory and happiness to have a rational nature. Law.

3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous, extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise; judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.

4. (Chem.)

Definition: Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; -- said of formulæ. See under Formula. Rational horizon. (Astron.) See Horizon, 2 (b).

– Rational quantity (Alg. ), one that can be expressed without the use of a radical sign, or in extract parts of unity; -- opposed to irrational or radical quantity.

– Rational symptom (Med.), one elicited by the statements of the patient himself and not as the result of a physical examination.

Syn.

– Sane; sound; intelligent; reasonable; sensible; wise; discreet; judicious.

– Rational, reasonable. Rational has reference to reason as a faculty of the mind, and is opposed to traditional; as, a rational being, a rational state of mind, rational views, etc. In these cases the speculative reason is more particularly, referred to. Reasonable has reference to the exercise of this faculty for practical purposes, and means, governed or directed by reason; as, reasonable prospect of success. What higher in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational, love still. Milton. A law may be reasonable in itself, although a man does not allow it, or does not know the reason of the lawgivers. Swift.

Ra"tion*al, n.

Definition: A rational being. Young.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

27 January 2025

FISSILE

(adjective) capable of being split or cleft or divided in the direction of the grain; “fissile crystals”; “fissile wood”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.

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