The binary system expresses numbers using only the two digits 0 and 1. It is used especially in computing.
2. uncountable noun
Binary is the binary system of expressing numbers.
The machine does the calculations in binary.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Binary describes something that has two different parts.
[formal]
...a binary star.
binary in British English
(ˈbaɪnərɪ)
adjective
1.
composed of, relating to, or involving two; dual
2. mathematics, computing
of, relating to, or expressed in binary notation or binary code
3.
(of a compound or molecule) containing atoms of two different elements
4. metallurgy
(of an alloy) consisting of two components or phases
5.
(of an educational system) consisting of two parallel forms of education such as the grammar school and the secondary modern in Britain
6. mathematics, logic
(of a relation, expression, or operation) applying to two elements of its domain; having two argument places; dyadic
nounWord forms: plural-ries
7.
something composed of two parts or things
8. astronomy binary star
9. short for binary weapon
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin bīnārius; see bin-
binary in American English
(ˈbaɪnəri)
adjective
1.
made up of two parts or things; twofold; double
2.
designating or of a number system in which the base used is two, each number being expressedin powers of two by using only two digits, specif. 0 and 1
3.
designating or of a musical form consisting of two closely related sections
4. Chemistry
composed of two elements or radicals, or of one element and one radical
binary compounds
nounWord forms: pluralˈbinaries
5.
something made up of two parts or things
6.
binary star
Word origin
ME binarie < L binarius < bini, two by two < bis, double < IE *duis < base *dwōu-, two
Examples of 'binary' in a sentence
binary
Democracy must evolve and offer voters more than a binary choice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is a binary bet.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Well, typically betting has a binary outcome - you win or lose it all.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The menu is set into three courses with binary choices and a short à la carte.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This can be used to store eight bits of binary code.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
Another form of investment is binary bets.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is used to add together two binary digits giving both the sum and the carry digit.
Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)
Her expertise enabled her to make substantial contributions to our understanding of binary stars and stellar life cycles.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When preparing for an election, politicians are faced with a binary choice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
See also binary number system; bit.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
But note that with four binary digits numbers up to 15 can be coded in this way.
Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)
Alongside that, show a binary system and hope the aliens can work out the rest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It takes about 30 seconds to send four numbers and currently only binary digits can be transmitted.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is used to add together two binary digits and the carry digit from the previous column giving both the sum and the next carry digit.
Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)
Yet it is no binary choice - it's not either total freedom or utter isolation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Like an American presidential election, this referendum offers a simple and binary choice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
About 16 per cent of asteroids are known to be so-called binary or triple systems.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
For half an hour I converted binary numbers to decimal numbers, and hunted for patterns.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A counter that counts from 0 to 15 requires an output of four binary numbers or electrical connections.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
He wears brown, doesn't care much for his appearance and works as a clerk copying out binary code by hand with three equally geeky colleagues.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He has spent a career swerving the challenging complexities of the world as it is, preferring the simple binary arguments of the ideal world he'd like.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
binary
British English: binary ADJECTIVE
The binary system expresses numbers using only the two digits 0 and 1.
A pet tag is a number in binary code.
American English: binary
Brazilian Portuguese: binário
Chinese: 二进制的
European Spanish: binario
French: binaire
German: binär
Italian: binario
Japanese: 二進法の
Korean: 2진법의
European Portuguese: binário
Latin American Spanish: binario
All related terms of 'binary'
binary code
Binary code is a computer code that uses the binary number system.
binary form
a structure consisting of two sections, each being played twice
binary star
a double star system comprising two stars orbiting around their common centre of mass . A visual binary can be seen through a telescope . A spectroscopic binary can only be observed by the spectroscopic Doppler shift as each star moves towards or away from the earth
binary digit
either of the two digits 0 or 1, used in binary notation
a chemical weapon consisting of a projectile containing two substances separately that mix to produce a lethal agent when the projectile is fired
visual binary
a binary star that can be visually separated into its two components with a telescope or, rarely , by the naked eye: in contrast to a binary star which is so distant it requires a spectrum analysis to separate the components
binary fission
asexual reproduction in unicellular organisms by division into two daughter cells
binary notation
a number system having a base of two, numbers being expressed by sequences of the digits 0 and 1: used in computing , as 0 and 1 can be represented electrically as off and on
X-ray binary
a binary star that is an intense source of X-rays and is composed of a normal star in close orbit with a white dwarf , neutron star, or black hole
binary opposition
a relation between the members of a pair of linguistic items, as a pair of distinctive features, such that one is the absence of the other, as voicelessness and voice, or that one is at the opposite pole from the other, as stridency and mellowness
eclipsing binary
a binary star whose orbital plane lies in or near the line of sight so that one component is regularly eclipsed by its companion
semidetached binary
a pair of stars that are so close together that mass transfer occurs from one to the other
binary-coded decimal
a number in binary code written in groups of four bits , each group representing one digit of the corresponding decimal number