01 a. Of, pertaining to, or affecting, a part only; not general or universal; not total or entire; as, a partial eclipse of the moon.
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1.
Of, pertaining to, or affecting, a part only; not general or universal; not total or entire; as, a partial eclipse of the moon.
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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.“Ye have been partial in the law.” — Mal. ii. 9.
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3.
Having a predilection for; inclined to favor unreasonably; foolishly fond.“Not partial to an ostentatious display.” — Sir W. Scott.
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4.
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.(Bot.)
Phrases & compounds
Partial differentials —
the differentials, differential coefficients, differentiation etc., of the function, upon the hypothesis that some of the variables are for the time constant.
Partial fractions —
fractions whose sum equals a given fraction.
Partial tones —
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.