dividend

From Middle French dividende, from Latin dividendum (“thing to be divided”), future passive participle of divido (“to divide”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɪvɪdɛnd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

dividend (plural dividends)

1. (arithmetic) A number or expression that is to be divided by another.

   In "42 ÷ 3" the dividend is the 42.

2. (finance) A pro rata payment of money by a company to its shareholders, usually made periodically (eg, quarterly or annually).
3. (figuratively) Beneficial results from a metaphorical investment (of time, effort, etc.)

   His 10,000 hours of practice and recitals eventually paid dividends when he become first-chair violinist.

   • 2012, Cameron Haley, Retribution:

     That blood and pain paid a dividend, too, even when the subject wasn't a sorcerer.

   • 2014, Bobby Adair, Slow Burn: Dead Fire, Book 4::

     The money I'd spent on getting scuba certified was about to pay a dividend. My half-baked escape plan came together.

   • 2016, Christina Stead, The Beauties and Furies, page 163:

     'Why not: you, Elvira, will shortly pay a dividend, that is, have a child.'

• (finance: pro rata payment): regular dividend, special dividend

• addition, summation: (augend) + (addend) = (summand) + (summand) = (sum, total)
• subtraction: (minuend) − (subtrahend) = (difference)
• multiplication: (multiplier) × (multiplicand) = (factor) × (factor) = (product)
• division: (dividend) ÷ (divisor) = (quotient), remainder left over if divisor does not divide dividend
• numerator

dividend m (plural dividends)

1. (arithmetic) dividend
2. (finance) dividend

• dividir

• “dividend” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

dividend c

1. (arithmetic) dividend
2. (finance, Finland) dividend

• (finance): utdelning