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• del
  del

  (in names of Spanish derivation) a contraction of de and the article el:
• del.
  del.

  abbreviation

  delegate; delegation.
• Del.
  Del.

  abbreviation

  Delaware.

del

¹ American  

[del] / dɛl /

1. (in names of Spanish derivation) a contraction of de and the article el:

   Estanislao del Campo.

2. (in names of Italian derivation) a contraction of di and the article il: Giovanni del Monte.

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del ² American  

[del] / dɛl /

noun

Mathematics.

1. a differential operator. ∇

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del. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. delegate; delegation.

2. delete; deletion.

3. delineavit.

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Del. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Delaware.

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Del. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Delaware

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del. ² British  

abbreviation

1. delegate

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del ³ British  

/ dɛl /

noun

1. ∇. Also called: nabla. maths the differential operator i (∂/∂ x ) + j (∂/∂ y ) + k (∂/∂ z ), where i , j , and k are unit vectors in the x , y , and z directions

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Etymology

Origin of del

First recorded in 1900–05; short form of delta

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

del del. Del.

Juan Omar Sixto says his father lost five properties and a farm in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province to the revolution.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

The demonstrators set up around 100 tents in the capital's busy Puerta del Sol square after tens of thousands took to the streets on Saturday to demand action to lower housing costs and protect tenants.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Spain’s beachside paradise of Costa del Sol has become one of the most trafficked ports of entry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Scarlett Guyser threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third in a 25-0 league shutout of Corona del Mar.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

He calls me preciosa—precious one—and Roli and the twins his compadres del alma.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

Am. del. on economics and reparation clauses; economic adviser for the Am.

From The Mirrors of Washington by John Kirby

Joutel del., from a photograph by the author.

From Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution His Life and Work by A. S. (Alpheus Spring) Packard

Williams del. and sculpt.Published by W. Marsden, 1810.

From The History of Sumatra Containing An Account Of The Government, Laws, Customs And Manners Of The Native Inhabitants by William Marsden

Del. Delaware; Delegate. del., delt., delineavit='He drew it,' put after the draftsman's name on an engraving. demon.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

"F. Bonneville del. et sculpsit" is its whole history.

From The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. II. (of II) With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England by Moncure Daniel Conway

Schmidt, who lives with her husband of 65 years in Lewes, Del., filled prescriptions for more than a dozen different drugs in the past year, according to pharmacy and medical records.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

During opening remarks, she told Brendan Shannon, the Wilmington, Del., judge overseeing the case, that she and her friends flocked there for piercings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025

I’ve been to Rehobeth Beach, Del., where Biden has a vacation home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2024

Navient, based in Wilmington, Del., has not publicized the discharge program that helped Ms. Maynard.

From New York Times ● May 30, 2024

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Piper talking to Del. If he goes for this, everyone else will too.

From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko