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I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines.

A decimal you'll require; my anagram leads a choir.

What am I?

HINT 1

For not literally defined, look at its actual symbol... if you get it you'll know what I mean :)

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    $\begingroup$ I have a question: is the FULL anagram of the word that leads the choir, right? Or just part of it? $\endgroup$
    – Midori
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:11
  • $\begingroup$ @TheSimpliFire comments are volatile. Information in comments that can lead/change answers should be added to the question body. Please do. $\endgroup$
    – Mindwin Remember Monica
    Apr 17, 2018 at 17:52

9 Answers 9

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I think I may have solved my first one!!!

Is it

Percent?

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

The word percent has a definition as a fraction of 100, but the symbol is 0/0 - which is undefined.

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines.

The symbol is two circles with a line between them

A decimal you'll require; my anagram leads a choir.

Percents can often be expresses as decimal numbers, and... Definition of precent : intransitive verb : to act as precentor : lead a choir or congregation in singing

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    $\begingroup$ unfortunately @Cain was faster $\endgroup$
    – Mart10
    Apr 17, 2018 at 16:10
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    $\begingroup$ Oh man! I'm just happy I got one. Next time I'll be faster with the formatting. Nice job @Cain. Although I think my answer for "not literally defined" is better. $\endgroup$
    – enderGC
    Apr 17, 2018 at 16:11
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I think you are

Percent

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

Percent has a meaning, but the symbol has no hard boundary, so is not literally defined.

The simplest of shapes, circles and lines.

Self evident

A decimal you'll require

Alternate form of a number in percent is as a decimal.

my anagram leads a choir

Precent is the leader of a choir

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  • $\begingroup$ If you look at the symbol (as per the hint) you will see it looks like an undefined math operation. I'm pretty sure that is the interpretation of "not literally defined". (Edit: I just noticed that EnderGC has already posted that.) $\endgroup$
    – Paul Sinclair
    Apr 17, 2018 at 16:52
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My answer will be fast and loose, but I don't mean to be obtuse.

You are

an angle.

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

You have a meaning within geometry, but literally you're just space.

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines.

Angles are commonly drawn with circles and lines, like with radians.

A decimal you'll require;

The measurement of an angle doesn't usually require a decimal, but most numbers innately have them...? An angle does require a point, though.

my anagram leads a choir

Anagram of angle is angel, which can lead a group of them called a choir.

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    $\begingroup$ (+1) Very good answer, though not the one I'm after! The 'decimal you'll require' is a bit hard to explain for an angle... and by decimal I don't mean its synonym point ;) $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Apr 17, 2018 at 15:04
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    $\begingroup$ Aww, darn. This is gonna be one of those riddles where I'm going to slap myself once the answer's revealed, huh. xD $\endgroup$
    – generalcrispy
    Apr 17, 2018 at 15:08
  • $\begingroup$ With that hint, now I have something, but it doesn't fit the last clue... $\endgroup$
    – generalcrispy
    Apr 17, 2018 at 15:15
  • $\begingroup$ Can't you use Radians instead of degrees for an angle? You usually use decimals/fractions in radians. $\endgroup$
    – DjangoBlockchain
    Apr 17, 2018 at 16:12
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I think you are

a point

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

you define it with coordinates but always depending on the context

The simplest of shapes, circles and lines.

they're made from points

A decimal you'll require

needed for making a decimal

my anagram leads a choir

you can lead a choir with a pointer

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    $\begingroup$ How about the choir? $\endgroup$
    – rhsquared
    Apr 17, 2018 at 13:26
  • $\begingroup$ I keep searching that one. $\endgroup$
    – Yesub
    Apr 17, 2018 at 13:27
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    $\begingroup$ here are a list of anagrams new.wordsmith.org/anagram/… :D $\endgroup$
    – Goose
    Apr 17, 2018 at 13:27
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    $\begingroup$ it's the anagram of the word we are looking for that leads the choir, not the word itself $\endgroup$
    – Midori
    Apr 17, 2018 at 13:36
  • $\begingroup$ I really don't get that last one... $\endgroup$
    – Yesub
    Apr 17, 2018 at 13:42
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I think you are

cylinder

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

we can define a cylinder but we can't use an existing symbol to do so

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines.

two circles and infinite amount of lines perpendicular to their perimeter

A decimal you'll require

$pi$

my anagram leads a choir

lyric(s) can lead a choir

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  • $\begingroup$ (+1) Great answer, though it's not the one I'm looking for. Also please see the comment below the original post about the full anagram (that uses all the words) :) $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Apr 17, 2018 at 15:38
  • $\begingroup$ My bad, I missed the comment. I have no math background so this was my best shot. And I know you meant letters not words ;) $\endgroup$
    – Roman
    Apr 17, 2018 at 16:01
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I think you are

ten or 10

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

10 is defined as a natural number

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines.

I0

a decimal you require

decimal numeral system is also called base-10 numeral system

my anagram leads a choir

Ten in dirigent

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  • $\begingroup$ Good shot, though you have missed two other parts of the riddle! $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:17
  • $\begingroup$ Oh yeah, now I see it. You were talking about circles and lines in plural :) $\endgroup$
    – D3f4u1t
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:19
  • $\begingroup$ No they can be singular ;) $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:21
  • $\begingroup$ And see the comment above that requires a full anagram :) $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:22
  • $\begingroup$ I will try another shot :) $\endgroup$
    – D3f4u1t
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:22
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I think you are

Radian

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined

a unit of measurement of angles equal to about 57.3°

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines

The length of an arc of a unit circle is numerically equal to the measurement in radians of the angle that it subtends

A decimal you'll require

1 Rad = 57.2958...°

my anagram leads a choir

Aria. From rearranging particular letters from Radian. An Aria leading a choir during an operatic performance.

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  • $\begingroup$ I'm confused - could you explain how your answer for the last line is an anagram of the overall answer? $\endgroup$
    – puzzledPig
    Apr 17, 2018 at 15:26
  • $\begingroup$ Welcome to Puzzling SE, and thanks for posting an answer! You've got some of the parts right, but how can you rearrange the letters of radian to give prima donna? :) $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Apr 17, 2018 at 15:26
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I think you are

$tangent$

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

Tangent has a definition of how to calculate and how to get it, but it's not a defined function itself.

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines.

Tangent can be represented as a line segment tangent to the circle

A decimal you'll require;

Not sure, but maybe because a circle needs a $pi$?

my anagram leads a choir

A conductor can lead a choir with a baton. baton anagram could be $tan$, but I think you want it the other way around. Thinking about it.

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  • $\begingroup$ Nope, but good try! $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:04
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    $\begingroup$ I need to learn more english :p $\endgroup$
    – Paul Karam
    Apr 17, 2018 at 14:05
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I think you are

Infinity $\infty$

I have a definition, but I'm not literally defined.

Infinity is a concept or idea of never-ending and having no limits — it is not defined as a number.

The simplest of shapes: circles and lines.

$$\text{It is simple, like drawing a sideways $8$.}$$ Infinity

A decimal you'll require;

Ways of mathematically expressing infinity include initiating a divergent series like $(1)$ or converting certain fractions to decimals like $(2)$. $$\begin{align}\sum_{i=1}^\infty \frac 1i &=\infty\tag1 \\ \frac 13&=0.\underbrace{3333333333\ldots}_{\text{infinite times}}\tag2\end{align}$$

My anagram leads a choir.

Infinity is also known as a figure eight, which has an anagram of three, and three lead a choir (the Conductor, with their hand and face gestures; their baton; and the song of choice).

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    $\begingroup$ (+1) Very good try! The last two are pushing it slightly though ;) $\endgroup$
    – TheSimpliFire
    Jul 1, 2018 at 8:41
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    $\begingroup$ @TheSimpliFire hahah, yes they were indeed the hardest. Great riddle, though :)) $\endgroup$
    – Mr Pie
    Jul 2, 2018 at 2:41

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