From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Fraction \Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking,
fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See {Break}.]
1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially
by violence. [Obs.]
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Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to
any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe.
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2. A portion; a fragment.
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Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson.
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3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or
whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a
unit or magnitude.
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{Common fraction}, or {Vulgar fraction}, a fraction in which
the number of equal parts into which the integer is
supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters,
called the denominator, written below a line, over which
is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts
included in the fraction; as 1/2, one half, 2/5, two
fifths.
{Complex fraction}, a fraction having a fraction or mixed
number in the numerator or denominator, or in both.
--Davies & Peck.
{Compound fraction}, a fraction of a fraction; two or more
fractions connected by of.
{Continued fraction}, {Decimal fraction}, {Partial fraction},
etc. See under {Continued}, {Decimal}, {Partial}, etc.
{Improper fraction}, a fraction in which the numerator is
greater than the denominator.
{Proper fraction}, a fraction in which the numerator is less
than the denominator.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Improper \Im*prop"er\, a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im-
not + proprius proper. See {Proper}.]
1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances,
design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous;
inappropriate; indecent; as, an improper medicine;
improper thought, behavior, language, dress.
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Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service,
Improper for a slave. --Shak.
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And to their proper operation still,
Ascribe all Good; to their improper, Ill. --Pope.
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2. Not peculiar or appropriate to individuals; general;
common. [Obs.]
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Not to be adorned with any art but such improper
ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and
poetry. --J. Fletcher.
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3. Not according to facts; inaccurate; erroneous.
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{Improper diphthong}. See under {Diphthong}.
{Improper feud}, an original feud, not earned by military
service. --Mozley & W.
{Improper fraction}. See under {Fraction}.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
improper fraction
n 1: a fraction whose numerator is larger than the denominator
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