| partial | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Inclined to favor one party in a cause, or one side of a question, more then the other; biased; not indifferent; as, a judge should not be partial. [ 1913 Webster ] Ye have been partial in the law. Mal. ii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Having a predilection for; inclined to favor unreasonably; foolishly fond. “A partial parent.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ] Not partial to an ostentatious display. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Partiality | n. [ Cf. F. partialité. ] 1. The quality or state of being partial; inclination to favor one party, or one side of a question, more than the other; undue bias of mind. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A predilection or inclination to one thing rather than to others; special taste or liking; as, a partiality for poetry or painting. Roget. [ 1913 Webster ] |
