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. Compare improper integral, line integral, multiple integral, surface integral.

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. 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 ) ʃ
2. a complete thing; whole

integral

/ ĭn′tĭ-grəl /

Adjective

1. Involving or expressed as an integer or integers.

Noun

1. See definite integral

Derived Forms

• integrality, noun
• ˈintegrally, adverb

Other Words From

• inte·grali·ty noun
• inte·gral·ly adverb
• un·inte·gral adjective
• un·inte·gral·ly 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

Much like Salesforce president and COO Bret Taylor told TechCrunch recently, that platform approach has been an integral part of its success, and Levie sees it similarly for Box.

From TechCrunch

In one recent high-profile case, the USPIS was integral to bringing down the online drug site known as the Silk Road.

From Fortune

Researchers use computers to essentially guess at millions of relationships and laboriously extract the combinations of integrals that matter.

From Quanta Magazine

You will also work with our producer and host, Galen Druke, every week, playing an integral role in what goes on the air.

From FiveThirtyEight

Both might be integral in generating energy from the manganese or one could be the main driver.

From Science News

Sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll have always been an integral part of her story.

From The Daily Beast

Throwing up is an integral part of the ceremony, and shamans encourage it.

From The Daily Beast

This is because espionage has become an integral part of American statecraft.

From The Daily Beast

At first this is integral to the fantasy; it's visually stimulating.

From The Daily Beast

Not so this time, as Fury had an integral reason for being there, and added muscle, brains and plenty of sharp lines.

From The Daily Beast

This tube T therefore becoming an integral part of the block itself.

From Project Gutenberg

We are forced by the facts to regard the matter as an integral part of the business transaction related in this narrative.

From Project Gutenberg

The books I could not get at, finding no way to open the transparent panels which seemed an integral part of the wall.

From Project Gutenberg

For in the view of the Greeks the words (lexis) were an integral part of the whole composition.

From Project Gutenberg

They loved to consider themselves an integral part of the British empire.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• elemental
• essential
• indispensable
• intrinsic