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partial

adj. · n.
US //ˈpɑɹʃəɫ// UK //pˈɑːʃəl// par·tial
  1. 1 incomplete (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not complete or whole; only a part of something.

    existing only as a part or portion; not total or exhaustive.

    Example

    The police only have a partial description of the car used in the robbery.

    Example

    The researchers were forced to publish a partial report because the final data set had not yet been fully verified by the laboratory.
  2. 2 biased (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    showing unfair support for one person or side in a disagreement.

    biased in favour of one person, side, or point of view, especially in a formal dispute.

    Example

    The judge was accused of being partial to the defendant because they were old friends.

    Example

    A truly fair referee must remain entirely neutral, as even a slightly partial decision can undermine the integrity of the entire competition.
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  1. 3 liking something (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    having a strong liking for something or someone.

    having a predilection or strong preference for something; typically follows the verb 'to be'.

    Example

    I must admit I am very partial to a piece of chocolate cake after dinner.

    Example

    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'.
  2. 4 sound/acoustics (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    one of the simple sounds that make up a complex musical note.

    any of the individual sine waves which combine to form a complex tone, including harmonics and overtones.

    Example

    The unique sound of a bell comes from the way its different partials ring out.

    Example

    By manipulating the upper partials of the synthesizer's waveform, the composer created a metallic timbre that mimicked industrial machinery.
  3. 5 dentistry (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    a set of false teeth that replaces only some of your natural teeth.

    a removable dental appliance or denture that replaces only a portion of the natural dentition.

    Example

    After the accident, he had to wear a partial to replace his two missing front teeth.

    Example

    The dentist recommended a partial rather than a full set of dentures to preserve the health of the remaining natural teeth.
    • denture
  4. 6 mathematics (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Math

    a type of calculation used to find how one part of a complex system changes.

    a partial derivative; the derivative of a multivariable function with respect to one variable while others are held constant.

    Example

    To solve the physics problem, we first had to calculate the partial with respect to time.

    Example

    The student struggled to compute the second-order partials required to determine the local extrema of the three-dimensional surface.

Origin

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”).

Word family

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