'partial' definitions:

Definition of 'partial'

From: WordNet
adjective
Being or affecting only a part; not total; "a partial description of the suspect"; "partial collapse"; "a partial eclipse"; "a partial monopoly"; "partial immunity"
adjective
Showing favoritism [ant: impartial]
adjective
(followed by `of' or `to') having a strong preference or liking for; "fond of chocolate"; "partial to horror movies" [syn: fond(p), partial(p)]
noun
The derivative of a function of two or more variables with respect to a single variable while the other variables are considered to be constant [syn: partial derivative, partial]
noun
A harmonic with a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency [syn: overtone, partial, partial tone]

Definition of 'partial'

From: GCIDE
  • partial \par"tial\ (p[aum]r"shal), 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]