partial differential

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. an expression obtained from a given function of several variables by taking the partial derivative with respect to one of the variables and multiplying by the increment in that variable.

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Etymology

Origin of partial differential

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

The work brings together ideas from complex analysis, partial differential equations, and geometric function theory.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

Many of Caffarelli’s most celebrated results have to do with the regularity — or lack thereof — of the solutions of so-called partial differential equations.

From Scientific American • Mar. 23, 2023

Yet, Dr. Caffarelli, 74, was able to make major progress in the understanding of partial differential equations even when complete solutions remain elusive.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2023

The sage speaking here is Anna Kiesenhofer, the Austrian mathematician specializing in partial differential equations and symplectic geometry who stunned world cycling by winning the gold in the Olympic road race on Sunday.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2021

This is known as Lagrange’s linear partial differential equation of the first order.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various