HOW TO PRONOUNCE
differential
/ˌdɪfɚˈɛnʃəl/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does differential mean?
adjective
- Of or pertaining to a difference.
- Dependent on, or making a difference; distinctive.
- Having differences in speed or direction of motion.
More meanings (11)
adjective
- Of or pertaining to differentiation or the differential calculus.
noun
- The differential gear in an automobile, etc.
- A qualitative or quantitative difference between similar or comparable things.
- 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.
- A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action in all.
- A quantity representing an infinitesimal change in a variable, now only used as a heuristic aid except in nonstandard analysis but considered rigorous until the 20th century; a fluxion in Newtonian calculus, now usually written in Leibniz's notation as operatorname d!x.
- A function giving the change in the linear approximation of f at a point x over a small interval Δx or operatorname d!x, the function being called the differential of f and denoted operatorname d!f(x,Δx), operatorname d!f(x), or simply operatorname d!f.
- Any of several generalizations of this concept to functions of several variables or to higher orders: the partial differential, total differential, Gateaux differential, etc.
- The Jacobian matrix of a function of several variables.
- The pushforward or total derivative of ϕ: a linear map from the tangent space at a point x in ϕ's domain to the tangent space at ϕ(x) which is, in a technical sense, the best linear approximation of ϕ at x; denoted operatorname d!ϕₓ.
- Any of several generalizations of the concept(s) above: e.g. the Kähler differential in the setting of schemes, the quadratic differential in the theory of Riemann surfaces, etc.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˌdɪfɚˈɛnʃəl/
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The following year he, in conjunction with his brother William, took out another patent for a differential regulator.
To reduce the strains arising from firing, the arm is fitted with what is known as the "differential recoil."
More book examples (3)
It appeared that a big lead had opened and that there had been some differential movement of the pack.
Otis held the character and abilities of his former teacher in very high respect, and allowed this differential feeling to appear throughout the trial.
Man is fallen; nature is erect, and serves as a differential thermometer, detecting the presence or absence of the divine sentiment in man.