# Del

/ˈdɛɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/del
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. mathematical symbol

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a triangle symbol used in math to show how something changes in space.

For teachers: the symbol ∇, representing the gradient operator in vector calculus.

- The professor wrote the del symbol on the board to start the calculus problem.
- In vector calculus, the del operator is applied to a scalar field to derive the gradient vector at any given point.

Usage: Often referred to as 'nabla' in technical contexts.

### 2. keyboard key

noun · CEFR B1

a short name for the 'Delete' key on a computer keyboard.

For teachers: a common abbreviation for the 'Delete' key, used to remove characters or files.

- Press the del key to remove the unwanted text from your document.
- The user was instructed to hold down the control, alt, and del keys simultaneously to restart the frozen system.

Usage: Usually written as 'Del' on physical hardware.

### 3. a representative

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a short way to write the word 'delegate'.

For teachers: a written abbreviation for 'delegate', typically used in administrative or political contexts.

- The list showed each del and the country they represented at the meeting.
- The conference registration form required each del to provide their institutional affiliation and contact details.

Usage: Primarily used in written lists or formal schedules.

### 4. to remove

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short way to say 'delete' in computer programming.

For teachers: an abbreviation for 'delete', frequently used as a command or keyword in programming languages.

- You can use the del command to clear the old data from the list.
- In Python, the del statement is used to remove an item from a list or delete a variable entirely from memory.

Usage: Commonly used as a reserved keyword in various coding syntaxes.

### 5. constellation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a short name for the constellation called Delphinus.

For teachers: the standard astronomical abbreviation for the constellation Delphinus.

- The star chart marked the small constellation as Del.
- Alpha Del is the brightest star in the constellation Delphinus, located in the northern sky near the celestial equator.

Usage: Standardized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

## Examples

- The del operator is used to calculate the gradient of the field.
- In physics, the del symbol appears frequently in equations that describe how fluids flow or how heat moves.
- Maxwell's equations are often expressed using del notation to provide a concise mathematical description of how electric and magnetic fields interact in three-dimensional space.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.