digit

A position in a sequence of numerals representing a place value in a positional number system.

Noun

  1. A position in a sequence of numerals representing a place value in a positional number system.
    • The base-10 number 123.4 has four digits: the hundreds digit is 1, the tens digit is 2, the units digit is 3, and the tenths digit is 4.
    • This meter is a 3½ digit digital multimeter that is rugged, reliable and convenient to use, while providing all of the accuracy and features needed for any application. - 2017 October 5, “DIGITAL MULTIMETER M-1000E”, in...

    Synonyms: place figure

  2. A distinct symbol representing a natural number in a positional number system.
    • Hexadecimal numeration (Base sixteen) includes the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 but also A (=10 decimal), B, C, D, E, and F. Sixteen itself is written as the two-digit number 10.
  3. ¹⁄₁₂ the apparent diameter of the sun or moon, (chiefly) as a measure of the totality of an eclipse.
    • A six-digit eclipse covers half the lunar surface.

    Synonyms: finger

  4. A unit of length notionally based upon the width of an adult human finger, standardized differently in various places and times, (especially) the English digit of ¹⁄₁₆ foot, now equivalent to about 1.9 cm.

    Synonyms: finger fingerbreadth fingersbreadth

  5. Synonym of inch.

    Synonyms: inch

  6. A narrow extremity of the human hand or foot: a finger, thumb, or toe.
    • Jai grabbed Andrew’s shoulders with the same three digits he had used to grab the ancient doubter’s skull and spun him around. - 2018, Shiv Kotecha, The Switch, United States: Wonder, →ISBN, page 144:
  7. Similar or similar-looking structures in other animals.
    • The ruminants have the cloven foot, i.e. two hoofed digits on each foot. - 1866, Richard Owen, Anatomy of Vertebrates:
  8. Synonym of degree: ¹⁄₃₆₀ of a circle.

    Synonyms: degree

  9. Synonym of manicule.

    Synonyms: manicule

Origin

From Middle English digit, from Latin digitus (“a finger; a number”). Doublet of digitus and dedo.

Forms

digits

Hyponyms

bit

Related

digits

Derived

binary digit binit check digit digital digit counter digit I digitiform digit IV digitize digitless digitlike digit number digit pulse digit sum digit trunk double-digit double digits first digit fourth digit hexit index digit interdigit lung-digit syndrome monodigit

Verb

  1. To point at or point out with the finger.

Forms

digits digiting digited