Rational
WordNet
adjective
(1) Having its source in or being guided by the intellect (distinguished from experience or emotion)
"A rational analysis"
(2) Of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
"Intellectual problems"
"The triumph of the rational over the animal side of man"
(3) Consistent with or based on or using reason
"Rational behavior"
"A process of rational inference"
"Rational thought"
(4) Capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers
"Rational numbers"
noun
(5) An integer or a fraction
WiktionaryText
Etymology 1
From , < <
Adjective
- Reasonable; not absurd, foolish, emotional, or fanciful.
- rational conduct
- Capable of reasoning.
- Man is a rational creature.
- Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.
- Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.
Antonyms
absurd, irrational, nonsensical arational, irrational, non-rational irrationalRelated terms
- arational
- irrational
- non-rational
- rationality
Etymology 2
From < , neut. of , for which see the first etymology.
Noun
- A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.
- The quotient of two rationals is again a rational.