recurring

Everyday

1. Happening again and again. tree →
2. (maths, UK) A decimal where a digit or group of digits repeats forever, like 0.333… tree →

In the lessons

In maths, UK pupils say «nought point three recurring» for 0.333…, shown with a dot over the digit; US pupils say repeating decimal. One third = 0.3 recurring; two thirds = 0.6 recurring. In stories and health a recurring dream or pain keeps coming back. Phrases: recurring decimal, recurring dream, recurring problem.

Examples

• One third as a decimal is 0.3 recurring. tree →
• I have a recurring dream about flying. tree →
• Leaks are a recurring problem in our old house. tree →
• The recurring character appears in every book of the series. tree →
• 1 ÷ 11 gives 0.09 recurring. tree →
• Headaches can be a recurring problem for some people. tree →
• Life in the Golden Age was one unceasing round of ever-recurring pleasures unmarred by sorrow or care. tree →

Note

Double r: recurring, recurred. Recurring decimals never end, but they can be written exactly as fractions. In US books the same idea is called a repeating decimal.