D defs.my
Entry 2 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Del

/dĕl/ · IPA /dɛl/
01 n. Share; portion; part.
  1. 1.
    Share; portion; part.[Obs.]
02 n. a differential operator which, operating on a function of several variables, gives the sum of the partial derivatives of the function with …
  1. 1.
    a differential operator which, operating on a function of several variables, gives the sum of the partial derivatives of the function with respect to the three orthogonal spatial coordinates; -- also called the gradient or grad. It is represented by an inverted Greek capital delta (∇), and is thus because of its shape also called nabla, meaning harp in Hebrew.(Math.) Also: gradient, grad, nabla