differential
[dɪfəˈɹənʃəɫ]
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.83 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of or pertaining to a difference.
adj
adj
Having differences in speed or direction of motion.
adj
Of or pertaining to differentiation or the differential calculus.
noun
The differential gear in an automobile, etc.
noun
A qualitative or quantitative difference between similar or comparable things.
noun
One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other.
Example Sentences
- "differential characteristics"
- "I saved disk space by taking differential backups, which only stored the data that had changed."
- "[Caspar Schetz, Baron of Grobbendonck] was regularly in the pay of Sir Thomas Gresham, to whom he produced differential favours, and by whose government he was rewarded by gold chains and presents of hard cash, bestowed as secretly as the equivalent was conveyed adroitly."
- "If f(x)#61;x², the differential of f is the function #92;operatorname#123;d#125;#92;#33;f(x,#92;Deltax)#61;f'(x)#92;Deltax#61;2x#92;Deltax."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin differō Latin differēns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin differentia Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin differentiālislbor. English differential Learned borrowing from Latin differentiālis. By surface analysis, different + -ial.