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partial |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Partial \Par"tial\, a. [F., fr LL partials, fr L. pars, gen. partis, a part cf (for sense 1) F. partiel. See {Part}, n.] 1. Of pertaining to or affecting, a part only; not general or universal; not total or entire; as a partial eclipse of the moon. ``Partial dissolutions of the earth.'' --T. Burnet. 2. Inclined to favor one party in a cause or one side of a question, more then the other baised; not indifferent; as a judge should not be partial. Ye have been partial in the law. --Mal. ii 9. 3. Having a predelection for inclined to favor unreasonably; foolishly fond. ``A partial parent.'' --Pope. Not partial to an ostentatious display. --Sir W. Scott. 4. (Bot.) Pertaining to a subordinate portion; as a compound umbel is made up of a several partial umbels; a leaflet is often supported by a partial petiole. {Partial differentials}, {Partial differential coefficients}, {Partial differentiation}, etc (of a function of two or more variables), the differentials, differential coefficients, differentiation etc., of the function, upon the hypothesis that some of the variables are for the time constant. {Partial fractions} (Alg.), fractions whose sum equals a given fraction. {Partial tones} (Music), the simple tones which in combination form an ordinary tone; the overtones, or harmonics, which blending with a fundamental tone, cause its special quality of sound, or timbre, or tone color. See also {Tone}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: partial adj 1: being or affecting only a part not total; "a partial description of the suspect"; "partial collapse"; "a partial eclipse"; "a partial monopoly"; "partial immunity" 2: showing favoritism [syn: {unfair}] [ant: {impartial}] 3: (followed by `of' or `to') having a strong preference or liking for "fond of chocolate"; "partial to horror movies" [syn: {fond(p)}, {partial(p)}]
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