nu ‧ me ‧ ra ‧ tor /ˈnjuːməreɪtə $ ˈnuːməreɪtər/ BrE AmE noun [countable] technical
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ number , ↑ numeral , ↑ numeracy , ↑ numerator , ↑ innumeracy ; adjective : ↑ innumerable , ↑ numerical , ↑ numerous , ↑ numerate ≠ ↑ innumerate ; verb : ↑ number , ↑ outnumber ; adverb : ↑ numerically ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: Latin numerare ; ⇨ ↑ numeration ]
the number above the line in a ↑ fraction , for example 5 is the numerator in 5/6 ⇨ denominator