digit
- digit
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/dij"it/, n.
1. a finger or toe.
2. the breadth of a finger used as a unit of linear measure, usually equal to ¾ in. (2 cm).
3. any of the Arabic figures of 1 through 9 and 0.
4. any of the symbols of other number systems, as 0 or 1 in the binary.
6. Astron. the twelfth part of the sun's or moon's diameter: used to express the magnitude of an eclipse.
[1350-1400; ME < L digitus finger, toe]
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in anatomy, finger or toe of land vertebrates, the skeleton of which consists of small bones called phalanges. The tips of the digits are usually protected by keratinous structures, such as claws, nails, or hoofs, which may also be used for defense or manipulation. Digits are numbered one through five, beginning with the inside digit (
thumb) when the palm (
paw) is face downward.
In many species the number of digits has been reduced during the course of evolution. Amphibians and birds typically have four digits on each foot, amphibians having lost digit one (
thumb) and birds digit five. Reptiles usually have five digits. Many phalanges have been lost from the bird's wing; the remainder are often elongated for support in flight. The number of digits in mammals varies greatly. In those with five digits (
e.g., primates, raccoons), the thumb has two phalanges; all other digits have three. In the horse only the third digit remains, covered at the tip by a single hoof. In cattle and other split-hoofed animals, digits three and four remain.
The number of phalanges may be multiplied in the fins of sea mammals. In bats the phalanges of digits two to five, and other arm bones, are elongated and support a fleshy wing; the thumb is short and free and carries a claw.
Primates (
primate) have five digits, and most have developed fingernails and toenails in the place of claws and hoofs. These digits tend to be capable of much independent, manipulative action. The human foot is specialized for bipedal locomotion—the toes are shortened, relatively immovable, and nonmanipulative.
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Universalium.
2010.
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Look at other dictionaries:
digit — digit … Dictionnaire des rimes
DIGIT — DIGI Terme utilisé en informatique pour désigner une unité de mémorisation correspondant à un chiffre exprimé dans un système de numération quelconque. Par exemple, dans le système décimal, un digit est l’un quelconque des chiffres de 0 à 9; dans … Encyclopédie Universelle
digit — di‧git [ˈdɪdʒt] noun [countable] one of the written signs that represent the numbers 0 to 9: • Binary code uses the digits 1 and 0. see also double digit ˈcheck ˌdigit COMPUTING a number or series of numbers added to the end of a code (= set of… … Financial and business terms
Digit — may refer to: Digit (anatomy), one of several most distal parts of a limb fingers, thumbs, and toes on hands and feet Numerical digit, as used in mathematics or computer science Hexadecimal, representing a four bit number Dit or digit, synonym of … Wikipedia
digit — DÍGIT, digiţi, s.m. (inform., electron.) Cifră. – Din engl. digit. Trimis de claudia, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98 dígit s. m., pl. dígiţi Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic DIGIT … Dicționar Român
digit — [n1] number Arabic, chiffer, cipher, figure, integer, notation, numeral, symbol, whole number; concepts 765,784 digit [n2] small appendage of animate being claw, extremity, fang, feeler, finger, fork, hook, index finger, phalange, pinkie, pointer … New thesaurus
digit — dig it, v. t. To point at or out with the finger. [R.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
digit — dig it (d[i^]j [i^]t), n. [L. digitus finger; prob. akin to Gr. da ktylos, of uncertain origin; possibly akin to E. toe. Cf. {Dactyl}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) One of the terminal divisions of a limb appendage; a finger or toe. [1913 Webster] The ruminants … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
digit — late 14c., numeral below 10, from L. digitus finger or toe (also with secondary meanings dealing in counting and numerals), related to dicere tell, say, point out (see DICTION (Cf. diction)). Numerical sense is because numerals under 10 were… … Etymology dictionary
digit — n *number, numeral, figure, integer dignify, ennoble, honor, glorify mean to invest a person or thing with something that elevates or uplifts his or its character or raises him or it in human estimation. Dignify distinctively implies the addition … New Dictionary of Synonyms
digit — ► NOUN 1) any of the numerals from 0 to 9, especially when forming part of a number. 2) a finger or thumb. ORIGIN Latin digitus finger, toe ; sense 1 arose from the practice of counting on the fingers … English terms dictionary
