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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

The newly studied fossil was uncovered during excavations led by Fundación Dinópolis at the "Están de Colón" site within the Villar del Arzobispo Formation, which dates back to the Late Jurassic period.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2026

On Wednesday, several dozen people, some banging pots and pans, protested against power outages in the San Miguel del Padron neighborhood on Havana's outskirts, a resident told AFP.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

A yearning for the limelight led to a 2015 meeting with Hollywood star Sean Penn and Mexican actress Kate del Castillo in the wilds of Sinaloa to discuss a possible biopic.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Then there was the Hotel del Coronado’s Circus Room restaurant, open from the 1930s into the 1960s.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

But if he does arrive in Melena del Sur, please treat him kindly but do what you think is best.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar