floating-point
nounUK /ˌfləʊtɪŋ ˈpɔɪnt/
US /ˌfloʊtɪŋ ˈpɔɪnt/
A way for computers to store numbers that have a decimal point, like 3.14.
The game uses floating-point math to move the spaceship smoothly.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A number stored in this format, which can have a decimal part.
The sensor sent back a floating-point value of 21.5 degrees.
3. A type of computer chip or unit that does this kind of math quickly.
This phone has a fast floating-point unit for graphics.
4. A standard way of writing very big or very small numbers using an exponent.
Scientists write tiny measurements as floating-point numbers like 1.5e-9.