aliquot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, formal
Quick answer
What does “aliquot” mean?
A portion or quantity that exactly divides a larger whole without remainder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A portion or quantity that exactly divides a larger whole without remainder.
In mathematics and science, a sample taken from a larger whole (e.g., chemical, biological) that is an exact fractional part of it. In law, can refer to a fractional share of an estate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are identical.
Connotations
Purely technical in both variants.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both regions, found primarily in scientific, mathematical, and occasionally legal texts.
Grammar
How to Use “aliquot” in a Sentence
aliquot of [substance/quantity]to aliquot [something] into [parts][number] is an aliquot part of [larger number]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “aliquot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The technician will aliquot the master solution into smaller vials.
- We need to aliquot the specimen for parallel testing.
American English
- The lab assistant aliquoted the plasma into cryovials.
- Always aliquot the reagent to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused. May appear in highly technical finance or resource allocation reports.
Academic
Used in mathematics (number theory), chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and medicine for describing precisely measured samples.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be unfamiliar to most non-specialists.
Technical
The primary domain. Denotes a precise, measured fraction of a whole, especially in lab procedures.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aliquot”
- Using 'aliquot' to mean any small part or sample, ignoring the requirement of exact divisibility.
- Pronouncing it as /əˈlaɪkwət/ or /ˈælɪkwət/ (should stress first syllable, clear /kwɒt/ or /kwɑːt/).
- Using it as a common synonym for 'portion' in non-technical writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, primarily in scientific lab contexts. It means to divide a sample into exact fractional parts.
No. It is a specialized term used almost exclusively in mathematics, chemistry, biology, and medicine.
All aliquots are samples, but not all samples are aliquots. An 'aliquot' specifically implies the sample is an exact fractional part of the whole (e.g., 10ml from 100ml), while a 'sample' can be any portion, regardless of proportional relationship.
Mathematically, the opposite concept is an 'aliquant' – a number that does not divide another exactly. More generally, 'remainder' or 'whole' are contextual opposites.
A portion or quantity that exactly divides a larger whole without remainder.
Aliquot is usually technical, formal in register.
Aliquot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈælɪkwɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈælɪkwɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A LIQUid PORTion' – an exact portion of a liquid sample in a lab.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS EXACT DIVISION (The concept maps the abstract idea of perfect, remainder-less division onto a physical sample).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'aliquot' used most precisely?