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Nearby words
Origin of delta
1350–1400; Middle English deltha < Latin delta < Greek délta; akin to Hebrew dāleth
Can be confused
delta estuaryDefinition for delta (2 of 2)
Delta
[ del-tuh ]
/ ˈdɛl tə /
noun Military.
the NATO name for a class of Soviet nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine armed with 16 multi-warhead missiles.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for delta
British Dictionary definitions for delta (1 of 3)
delta
/ (ˈdɛltə) /
noun
the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet (Δ, δ), a consonant transliterated as d
an object resembling a capital delta in shape
(capital when part of name) the flat alluvial area at the mouth of some rivers where the mainstream splits up into several distributariesthe Mississippi Delta
maths a finite increment in a variable
Derived Forms
deltaic (dɛlˈteɪɪk) or deltic, adjectiveWord Origin for delta
C16: via Latin from Greek, of Semitic origin; compare Hebrew dāleth
British Dictionary definitions for delta (2 of 3)
Delta
1/ (ˈdɛltə) /
noun
(foll by the genitive case of a specified constellation) usually the fourth brightest star in a constellation
any of a group of US launch vehicles used to put unmanned satellites into orbit
communications a code word for the letter d
British Dictionary definitions for delta (3 of 3)
Delta
2/ (ˈdɛltə) /
noun
a state of Nigeria, on the Niger river delta on the Gulf of Guinea. Capital: Asaba. Pop: 4 098 391 (2006). Area: 17 698 sq km (6833 sq miles)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for delta
delta
[ dĕl′tə ]
n.
The fourth letter of the Greek alphabet.
The fourth one in a series.
A surface or part that resembles a triangle, such as the terminus of a pattern in a fingerprint or the shape of a muscle.
adj.
Of or characterizing the atom or radical group that is fourth in position from the functional group of atoms in an organic molecule.
Of or relating to one of four closely related chemical substances.
Relating to or characterizing a polypeptide chain that is one of five types of heavy chains present in immunoglobins.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for delta
delta
[ dĕl′tə ]
A usually triangular mass of sediment, especially silt and sand, deposited at the mouth of a river. Deltas form when a river flows into a body of standing water, such as a sea or lake, and deposits large quantities of sediment. They are usually crossed by numerous streams and channels and have exposed as well as submerged areas.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.