ra|ti|o

ra|ti|o «RAY shee oh, -shoh», noun, plural -ti|os.

1. the relation between two numbers or quantities expressed as a quotient; relative magnitude. “He has sheep and cows in the ratio of 10 to 3” means that he has ten sheep for every three cows, or 3¹/₃ times as many sheep as cows.

2. a quotient expressing this relation. The ratio between two quantities is the number of times one contains the other. The ratio of 3 to 6 is written as 3:6, ³/₆, or ½; the ratio of 6 to 3 is written as 6:3, ⁶/₃, 6 ÷ 3, or 2. The ratios of 3 to 5 and 6 to 10 are the same.

3. proportional relation or rate, especially of gold to silver.

╂[< Latin ratiō, -ōnis reckoning < rērī to reckon. See etym. of doublets ration (Cf. ↑ration), reason. (Cf. ↑reason)]