catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  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]

  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.