integral

[in-ti-gruhl, in-teg-ruhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging as a part of the whole; constituent or component.

   integral parts.

2. necessary to the completeness of the whole.

   This point is integral to his plan.

   Synonyms: requisite, indispensable, essential

3. consisting or composed of parts that together constitute a whole.

4. entire; complete; whole.

   the integral works of a writer.

5. Arithmetic.,  pertaining to or being an integer; not fractional.

6. Mathematics.,  pertaining to or involving integrals.

noun

1. an integral whole.

2. Mathematics.

   1. Also called Riemann integral. the numerical measure of the area bounded above by the graph of a given function, below by the x -axis, and on the sides by ordinates drawn at the endpoints of a specified interval; the limit, as the norm of partitions of the given interval approaches zero, of the sum of the products of the function evaluated at a point in each subinterval times the length of the subinterval.

   2. a primitive.

   3. any of several analogous quantities.

integral

/ ˌɪntɪˈɡrælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (often foll by to) being an essential part (of); intrinsic (to)

2. intact; entire

3. formed of constituent parts; united

4. maths

   1. of or involving an integral

   2. involving or being an integer

noun

1. ʃ. maths the limit of an increasingly large number of increasingly smaller quantities, related to the function that is being integrated (the integrand). The independent variables may be confined within certain limits ( definite integral ) or in the absence of limits ( indefinite integral )

2. a complete thing; whole

integral

1. Involving or expressed as an integer or integers.

1. See definite integral indefinite integral

Other Word Forms

• integrally adverb
• integrality noun
• unintegral adjective
• unintegrally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of integral¹

From the Medieval Latin word integrālis, dating back to 1545–55. See integer, -al ¹

Example Sentences

He has been an integral member of a first-place Dodgers team.

From Los Angeles Times

Her contributions always felt integral, but often sweetly complimentary to Hansard’s outsized showmanship.

From Los Angeles Times

He played an integral part as Sporting won the league and cup double in 2024-25, with his move to Chelsea announced in March.

From BBC

"They purchased between 30 and 60 - they're an integral part of the way we work."

From BBC

After its success, computer animation became an accepted and integral part of family films.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• elemental 
• essential 
• indispensable 
• intrinsic