Lexic.us

Definition of Rational

1. Adjective. Consistent with or based on or using reason. "Rational thought"

2. Noun. An integer or a fraction.

3. Adjective. Of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind. "The triumph of the rational over the animal side of man"

4. Adjective. Capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers. "Rational numbers"

5. Adjective. Having its source in or being guided by the intellect (as distinguished from experience or emotion). "A rational analysis"

Definition of Rational

1. a. Relating to the reason; not physical; mental.

2. n. A rational being.

Definition of Rational

1. Adjective. Capable of reasoning. ¹

2. Adjective. Logically sound; not contradictory or otherwise absurd. ¹

3. Adjective. (context: of a person or personal characteristics) Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness. ¹

4. Adjective. (mathematics arithmetic number theory not comparable) Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers. ¹

5. Adjective. (mathematics arithmetic not comparable) Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials. ¹

6. Noun. (mathematics) A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers. ¹

7. Noun. A rational being. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Rational

1. a number that can be expressed as a quotient of integers [n -S]

Medical Definition of Rational

1. 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. Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; said of formulae. See Formula. Rational horizon. See Horizon, 2 . Rational quantity, one elicited by the statements of the patient himself and not as the result of a physical examination. Synonym: 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) Origin: L. Rationalis: cf. F. Rationnel. See Ratio, Reason, and cf. Rationale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Rational

ratiocinating ratiocinatio ratiocination ratiocinations ratiocinative ratiocinatively ratiocinator ratiocinators ratiocinatory ratioed

ratiometric ration ration card ration out rationable rational (current term) rational-number rational drug design rational egoism rational egoist

rational formula rational function rational functions rational motive rational number rational numbers rational surface rational therapy rationale rationales

Literary usage of Rational

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"In any rational equation between (he roots of (1) the substitutions of G may be applied, and the result is a true equation. ..."

2. A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume (1874)
"This rational affection is not only a possible motive to action—it is the only motive that can make that character good of which human action is the ..."

3. The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements by Euclid, Johan Ludvig Heiberg (1908)
"If a rational area be applied to a rational straight line, it produces as breadth a straight line rational and commensurable in length with the straight ..."

4. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"Yet on the whole, the movement toward rational raiment for women is making ... Under the leadership of Lady Harberton, president of the rational Dress ..."

5. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"Here are included rational functions of the hyper- sine and -cosine. 2. ... rational Integral functions of x and log i, or x and sin"1*. ..."

6. A History of Philosophy by Frank Thilly (1914)
"(a) rational Psychology. Thus, it is legitimate to conclude that there can be ... In reasoning thus, rational psychology draws conclusions not warranted by ..."

Other Resources: