binary — relating to, using, or expressed in a system of numerical notation that has 2 as its base
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: relating to, using, or expressed in a system of numerical notation that has 2 as its base
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbaɪnəri/
Example Sentences
- My love life is like binary code—it's either 0 dates or 1 awkward date, nothing in between.
- The civil service exam often tests candidates' understanding of binary systems in computer science sections.
- Life isn't always a binary choice between success and failure; there's a lot of gray area in between.
binary
ADJECTIVE[/ˈbaɪnəri/]
relating to, using, or expressed in a system of numerical notation that has 2 as its base
The old computer stores every photo as a long binary code of ones and zeros.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Binary derives from Latin 'bini', meaning 'two each' or 'in pairs', originally used in Roman military contexts to describe soldiers arranged in pairs. This evolved into the Latin adjective 'binarius', meaning 'composed of two', which directly became the English 'binary'. The term gained widespread modern usage in computing to describe systems using only two digits (0 and 1).
Breakdown
bin- (from Latin 'bini', meaning two or paired) + -ary (suffix forming adjectives, meaning relating to or characterized by).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My love life is like binary code—it's either 0 dates or 1 awkward date, nothing in between.”
“The civil service exam often tests candidates' understanding of binary systems in computer science sections.”
“Life isn't always a binary choice between success and failure; there's a lot of gray area in between.”
“He tried to explain binary numbers to his grandma, but she just said, 'So it's like on and off, like my old radio?'”
“In astronomy, a binary star system consists of two stars orbiting a common center of mass.”
📚Related Words
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