Word
partial
Phoneticspar·tial, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɑɹʃəɫ/
UK/pˈɑːʃəl/
Definitions
01incomplete
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not complete or whole; only a part of something.
adj. existing only as a part or portion; not total or exhaustive.
“The police only have a partial description of the car used in the robbery.”
“The researchers were forced to publish a partial report because the final data set had not yet been fully verified by the laboratory.”
Synonyms
02biased
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. showing unfair support for one person or side in a disagreement.
adj. biased in favour of one person, side, or point of view, especially in a formal dispute.
“The judge was accused of being partial to the defendant because they were old friends.”
“A truly fair referee must remain entirely neutral, as even a slightly partial decision can undermine the integrity of the entire competition.”
Synonyms
03liking something
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having a strong liking for something or someone.
adj. having a predilection or strong preference for something; typically follows the verb 'to be'.
“I must admit I am very partial to a piece of chocolate cake after dinner.”
“He has always been particularly partial to nineteenth-century French poetry, often spending his weekends browsing old bookstores for rare editions.”
Usage
Usually used with the preposition 'to'.
04sound/acoustics
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Technical
n. one of the simple sounds that make up a complex musical note.
n. any of the individual sine waves which combine to form a complex tone, including harmonics and overtones.
“The unique sound of a bell comes from the way its different partials ring out.”
“By manipulating the upper partials of the synthesizer's waveform, the composer created a metallic timbre that mimicked industrial machinery.”
Synonyms
05dentistry
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a set of false teeth that replaces only some of your natural teeth.
n. a removable dental appliance or denture that replaces only a portion of the natural dentition.
“After the accident, he had to wear a partial to replace his two missing front teeth.”
“The dentist recommended a partial rather than a full set of dentures to preserve the health of the remaining natural teeth.”
Synonyms
06mathematics
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. a type of calculation used to find how one part of a complex system changes.
n. a partial derivative; the derivative of a multivariable function with respect to one variable while others are held constant.
“To solve the physics problem, we first had to calculate the partial with respect to time.”
“The student struggled to compute the second-order partials required to determine the local extrema of the three-dimensional surface.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “partial” in context.
Adjective
01. partial solution
“While the new policy helps, it is only a partial solution to the city's housing crisis.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Sales of the kitchen staple, which could be used to safely view the partial solar eclipse that enraptured millions, increased markedly, retailers have said.” “We have to make the most of these moments.” The country has to wait 55 years for another comparably deep partial eclipse.” Etymology
From Middle English partiall, parcial, from Old French parcial (“biased or particular”), from Late Latin partiālis (“of or pertaining to a part”), from Latin pars (“part”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
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