Noun

(en noun)

A part of a whole, especially a comparatively small part.

*

With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get

A ratio of two numbers, the numerator and the denominator, usually written one above the other and separated by a horizontal bar.

(chemistry) A component of a mixture, separated by fractionation.

In a eucharistic service, the breaking of the .

A small amount.

*

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town.}}

* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=January 29, author=Chris Bevan, work=BBC

, title= Torquay 0-1 Crawley Town , passage=After kick-off was delayed because of crowd congestion, Torquay went closest to scoring in a cagey opening 30 minutes, when Danny Stevens saw a fierce shot from the edge of the area swerve a fraction wide.}}

The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence.

* Foxe

Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up.

Noun

(en noun)

A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip.

* Francis Bacon

shreds of tanned leather

In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle; a very small amount.

There isn't a shred of evidence to support his claims.

(Shakespeare)